These are two things that relieve my headache.

When my head aches and I immerse myself in the world of a computer game (a RPG or a strategy), say for 1 hour or more, when I get back into the real world, the headache is gone. I suspect my head would still be aching if I had just stayed in bed and thought about it.

Also, when I apply pressure with my hand on my head as hard as I can, the headache instantly fades, no matter how nasty it was. It instantly returns once I don't apply the pressure anymore.

I was wondering if anyone can think of a scientific explanation for why these things work.

I know causes of headaches range from migraines to brain tumours, but what is the most common cause and how may it be prevented?

I understand that there are no pain receptors in the brain, so people undergoing brain surgery can be alert, with anaesthetic administered only locally to the scalp.

If this is so, how do we experience the pain of headaches and migraines, especially those that seem to come from a specific point inside the head and which throb and radiate from that point?

Sophie Yauner, By email, no address supplied

I found the ad's that promote pain relief (notably for headaches) tend to be very bold (black and white), have flashing lights, repetative noises or other things that stimulate a sore noggin.  Is this on purpose?