Having certain inherited genetic mutations increases your risk of getting migraines by up to 15%, according to a recent study from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard of more than 5,000 women. If you're already having bad headaches, you may want to consider:
1. Visiting a headache specialist. She can figure out if you're actually having migraines and prescribe medication that can help. Go to the National Headache Foundation's website—headaches.org—to find one in your area. (You may need to first get a referral from your primary care doctor.)
2. Asking your doc about magnesium supplements. Research has shown that people who take 600 mg a day have fewer migraine attacks.
3. Keeping a headache diary to help pinpoint triggers.Whenever you have a headache, jot down what you ate, and other possible triggers, like stress or lack of sleep.