I hope today's tip doesn't give you a headache, but if it does, don't reach for a pain reliever too quickly -- even an over-the-counter product.

"Frequent treatment of headaches with over-the-counter medications and even prescription medication can backfire and cause a condition called medication overuse headaches," says Dr. Orly Avitzur, medical consultant for Consumer Reports.

"If you get used to it by taking it frequently, you can develop a dependency on it and the end result is that you create even more headaches as your body needs it again."

Last year, the magazine surveyed more than 47,000 subscribers and nearly a third admitted they didn't always follow directions on the package. In many cases, that resulted in taking a dose larger than recommended.

"They did it because the pain severe or they felt they had no side effects or even more because they felt their above-average weight or their height could allow them to take more medication than most."

That can be dangerous. You should always follow the dosage information on the label.

Consumer Reports advises against taking headache medication more than twice a week. If you have persistent headaches, see your doctor. For chronic headaches, the editors recommend considering non-drug treatments such as acupuncture, biofeedback, physical therapy, and relaxation techniques.

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