Identifying the root of the cause can make your problem go away forever. So, next time you feel a headache coming on, don't just pop those pain pills, rather see if you can identify the culprit causing the discomfort. Here's a list of some of the everyday things we consume that could have you clutching your noggin in agony.

Most of the time, a headache doesn't indicate any other problems — it's a problem on its own. In fact, fewer than one percent of people with headache complaints have other serious problems. That said, never ignore pain if you feel a sudden headache coming on, says neurologist Giles Elrington in an article by the Daily Mail Online, especially if the headache is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever.

Still, if we can avoid getting the headaches in the first place, so much the better. Here are a few headache triggers you may have never thought of.

That ham sandwhich. An additive called tyramine containing nitrates effectively preserves food like cured meats, cheeses and chocolate. The chemical seems to increase blood flow to and from the brain which in turn can cause nerve endings to fire off incorrectly. Headaches triggered by food tend to affect your whole head and not just one side, like a typical migraine.

A cigarette on the sly. It may be your guilty pleasure when you're out and about having a good time, but that single cigarette can cause you more trouble than it's worth. Where tyramine in preserved foods gets blood flowing, nicotine constricts our blood vessels. In one study on the effects of smoking on migraines, 59 percent of people said that smoking would help bring on a migraine faster.

A hot shower. Studies have shown that extreme change in temperature from cold to hot or vice versa may alter blood pressure. The pain shouldn't last longer than five minutes, but it explains why you'll experience a "cold" headache if you put your feet in icy water, or feel a little woozy after a hot bath or shower.

Sex. We use headaches as an excuse to get out of having sex in the first place, but the act itself, particularly when you climax, could induce some thumping noggin pains. Called "coital" headaches, they are more likely to affect more men than women and is also more common in those having sex with casual partners, says Elrington, possibly due to the heightened excitement. The pain is a dull ache that occurs at the back of the head, near the neck. Very rarely, a coital headache can result in haemorrhagic stroke but this is more common in those with high blood pressure. If you notice that your coital headache is coupled with a loss of alertness, numbness and loss of balance, make sure you get medical attention immediately.