Everyday headaches aren’t usually cause for alarm; however, persistent or severe headaches should be taken seriously by healthcare providers who may advise lifestyle adjustments or medication as preventive measures.
Avoiding triggers such as sudden increases in caffeine consumption or age-related changes to hormones may provide relief from headaches. Drinking enough water also may alleviate pain; exercise can even trigger chemical release that reduces pain.
Hot and cold
Cold therapy works to ease headaches and migraines by narrowing blood vessels and restricting release of substances that cause inflammation and swelling, while also having a numbing effect. Ice packs can be found readily at grocery stores and pharmacies. Studies have also demonstrated that those who use regular cold therapy experience fewer and less intense headaches.
Heat therapy helps relax tense muscles and has an analgesic effect that may relieve neck and back tension that contributes to migraine pain, as well as nausea and vomiting associated with migraine attacks. Heat therapies should not be undertaken during pregnancy or for people suffering from cardiovascular, skin disorders or circulatory issues.
Traditional Chinese medicine uses an herb called Chuanxiong to treat headaches and other ailments. A recent study demonstrated its superior efficacy over placebo for relieving headaches and abdominal pain associated with chronic migraines.
Massage
Massage can be an effective form of stress relief and headache relief. Massage therapy may relax tight and shortened muscles, reduce trigger points, increase blood flow to the area allowing more oxygen and nutrients into your system, which in turn may provide pain relief.
One small study followed four adults suffering chronic tension-type headaches for four weeks and found that massage significantly decreased both their frequency and duration of headaches during this timeframe.
Migraines often result from tight neck and scalp muscles that lead to pain, depression and anxiety. Studies have revealed that stimulating acupressure points on hands may help relieve migraine headaches by encouraging the parasympathetic nervous system to overshadow dysfunctional sympathetic nerves and shift into rest-and-digest mode – something easily achieved at home by pressing thumb and index finger of each hand firmly but nonpainfully for 10 seconds at a time on one of your hands.
Over-the-counter pain medicine
Over-the-counter pain medicines may help relieve headaches if used appropriately, but when selecting and selecting your medicine be wary and read its label thoroughly to understand exactly which ingredients it contains (especially with combination products).
OTC pain medications that are most frequently taken include acetaminophen (Panadol, Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), aspirin and naproxen sodium (Aleve). A headache diary can help identify which headache remedies work best for you.
When OTC medicines fail to bring relief, people can visit a health care provider for stronger prescription available by prescription only – typically stronger than what’s available over-the-counter. People taking over-the-counter pain medicines more than two or three times weekly may develop Medication Overuse Headache which is similar to a rebound headache condition.
Diagnosis
Headaches can sometimes be due to underlying health conditions. For instance, when someone experiences migraines, healthcare providers might advise tests on heart and brain functions in order to better diagnose the cause.
Migraines tend to run in families, though they can also be caused by certain foods, smells and activities. A migraine attack usually manifests on one side of the head more intensely and lasts from hours up to days.
Migraine treatment includes acute treatments – medications to alleviate an already established headache – such as NSAIDs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen; triptans such as sumatriptan, eletriptan and rizatriptan; antiemetics like metoclopramide and chlorpromazine to decrease nausea; as well as antiemetics like metoclopramide and chlorpromazine which decrease nausea. Ice hats or blue light filtering glasses may help alleviate pain; keeping a headache diary may help identify triggers; as can changing sleep habits, exercise regime and diet can prevent headaches as can keeping regular schedules and managing stress can prevent headaches as well.
