How to Treat Headaches

Headache could be a minor pain in the cranial or frontal region of the head or could be a debilitating migraine, both of which are extremely disturbing and painful. Fortunately, here we have some tips to deal with this pain and to minimize or avoid it. 

• Caffeinated Drink: Caffeine taken in smaller quantities can help treat or reduce your headache. A study shows that a small amount of caffeine with medication helped almost 1900 patients with tension headache. But do keep in mind that excessive amounts of caffeine could cause chronic migraine. Headaches can also be caused by withdrawing the caffeine intake suddenly. 

• Use Of Cold Pack: Applying cold pack on your eyes or head during a headache will constrict the blood vessels and help reduce inflammation. This in turn can also help to minimize the discomfort caused due to the pain. A study shows that 50% of patients having migraine felt better after cold therapy for just 25 minutes. Cold therapy has been used to treat headaches and migraines for over 150 years.

• Warm Bath Or Shower: Warm water helps in relaxing the tensed muscles specially the muscles around your head and neck region which could ease your pain or symptoms. Heating pads or warm compress can also be used for this purpose. 

• Dim Lights: By darkening the room or dim light room can help in reducing the symptoms as it creates a quiet, soothing environment for patients. Almost 80% of people with headaches agreed that light triggers the pain or makes it even worse. For this purpose eye masks are easily available in the market to block the light rays from entering in your eyes. 

• Over-The-Counter Medications: Multiple medications that reduce headaches are easily available at your nearest pharmaceutical stores like ibuprofen, aspirin and tylenol. These medicines can help in reducing the pain but it’s always best to take any medicine after consulting with your doctor. 

• Meditation Or Yoga: Stress could lead you to many discomforting symptoms and headache is one of them. According to a study, the main reason for headaches among 66.7% of patients was stress. Yoga not only helps in reducing muscles, bones and joints pain but also helps in reducing depression and anxiety which ultimately helps controlling stress. Where meditation plays a key role in making a person mentally better and to cope with his pain and stress, our mental health is equally as important as our physical health in dealing with such conditions. 

• Acupressure: Muscular tension can be reduced by performing simple acupressure techniques. There are some specific points on your hand, shoulder and neck which can relieve headache. Following are some techniques that help in headaches. There is a soft part in your hand between your index finger and thumb. Apply circular pressure to this area for about 4-5 seconds, keeping in mind that this must not be done during pregnancy as it could induce the labor. There is a point on your shoulder muscle between your neck and edge of the shoulder. By using opposite hands on each side, pinch the muscle with your fingers and thumb, apply downward pressure by using your index finger for 4-5 seconds. Just behind the ear is located a mastoid bone following the natural groove of the neck to the part of the skull where the muscle is attached, applying firm pressure for about 4-5 seconds while breathing deeply would help reduce headache. 

• Lavender Oil: Lavender oil is widely known for its stress relieving property. By applying a few drops of this oil on your upper lip can help treat this condition. A study made on 129 patients showed that 92 patients reduced partially or entirely their headache symptoms after applying lavender oil on their upper lip. 

• Massage Sessions: Massages are popular among people as they reduce stress. To control the frequency of headache one should take regular massage. Massage will double its effectiveness when combined with exercise and a relaxed lifestyle. A study shows that people who take massages once a week reduce migraines and have good sleep. 

• Stay Hydrated: Dehydration could be the reason for your headache. Studies found that if a person is not drinking enough water he could develop the symptom of headaches. People who drink 1.5 liters of water per day have less severe headaches. In dehydration our blood vessels constrict and can cause pain. Having room temperature water is best for hydration of our body as extremely cold or iced water can trigger the effect of migraine in some patients. 

• Adequate Sleep: Taking a good sleep can reduce the symptoms of headaches and migraines. A study shows that 75% of people would go to sleep to ease their headache. Adequate sleep is extremely important for our brain and body to function properly. Limiting the screen time before bed can also help in minimizing the headache symptoms as overexposure to it can make the condition worse. 

• Eating Habit: Our eating habits include the eating pattern as well as the products that are consumed by us. Some foods can trigger the pain and symptoms of headaches including chocolate, red wine, ice cream, citrus fruits, fatty foods, processed meats and cheese. Keeping a food diary with you is a good idea for treating such conditions. 

• Exercise: For a healthy lifestyle exercise is extremely important. It is found that regular exercise can reduce the anxiety and depression of a person. During workout endorphins are released which is responsible for blocking the pain signals towards the brain. 

• Herbal Remedies: Almost every illness can be cured by nature. For some people certain herbs work like magic in such pain and symptoms. It is always a best option to ask your doctor or herbalist before consuming any medicine or herb to avoid any side effects. Here are some herbs often taken by migraine patients i.e Butterbur supplements, these are frequently taken by the patients to reduce the frequency of migraine. Ginger can be used to treat the common side effects of headache that are nausea and vomiting. 

• Magnesium deficiency: Migraines are more common in people with magnesium deficiency than typical adults. In a study of a small group of people it was found that patients who were taking 600 mg of magnesium regularly for many weeks reduced their migraine to 41.6%. People with cluster headaches are also having low levels of magnesium.