Headache pain can severely impact daily activities and may even signal more serious conditions, but there are ways to find relief for your headache.
Apply cold and hot treatments, as well as taking over-the-counter pain relievers or medications and self-massage techniques. Acupressure may also provide some relief; try gently squeezing between your thumb and index finger of the hand indentation to stimulate it.
Cold and heat
Headaches can range from mild irritation to incapacitating pain. Luckily, many over-the-counter and prescription medications exist to manage headache pain effectively; alternative remedies like cold and heat therapy may also prove helpful.
Applying a cold compress to the head and neck helps numb pain receptors and narrow blood vessels, relieving pressure and inflammation. Heat also relaxes tense muscles and improves circulation to ease headache pain relief.
Studies indicate that caffeine consumption may help with migraine headaches; however, only consume small doses at regular intervals so as to not overdo it and have the opposite effect. Avoiding foods and drinks which trigger your headaches such as caffeine, alcohol beverages and processed or fast foods is also effective at relieving symptoms; bright flickering light may aggravate them further so it’s wise to install dark curtains, sunglasses and wear antiglare screen protectors on computers at home and office environments respectively.
Over-the-counter pain medicine
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines come in tablets, capsules, and liquid forms to provide temporary relief of headaches in various forms. They work by blocking pain signals or lowering fever. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; such as aspirin or ibuprofen) tend to work well for most people experiencing headaches.
Some over-the-counter (OTC) medicines may lead to headaches if taken at too great a dose. Make sure that you read labels closely and check other medications to make sure none contain acetaminophen or NSAIDs, including cold and flu remedies, allergy pills, and herbal products that may contain such ingredients.
Some individuals take over-the-counter pain relievers long term, though this should only be done under medical advice. Overusing such OTC pain medications can actually cause “medication-overuse headache,” an unpleasant condition where your brain becomes dependent upon them to reduce head pain. This is particularly troublesome with headache-prevention drugs like feverfew or butterbur which have variable results at preventing migraines.
Massage
Massage can not only relax you, but can also be an effective remedy for headaches. By relieving tension in your neck and shoulders – one of the primary sources of migraines – massage increases blood flow while simultaneously stimulating endorphin release which triggers your brain’s feel-good chemicals to be released and soothe pain.
A 2022 research study comparing cervical mobilization (manual manipulation of the neck) with massage alone, found both treatments reduced self-reported migraine symptoms. However, massage that included mobilization proved more successful.
Migraines are a form of headache characterized by one-sided pain that spreads from one side of the head into facial, jaw and neck structures. Migraines may be brought on by lack of sleep, hormone imbalance or eating an unhealthy diet – among many other potential sources.
Migraine triggers vary from person to person, though certain common factors such as stress and poor sleep tend to be shared by many sufferers. Therapeutic massage techniques like deep tissue, cranial-sacral, myofascial release and acupressure may help lessen headache frequency and intensity for some sufferers.
Exercise
Exercise can often help to relieve headaches. Exercising releases chemicals into the body that block pain signals from entering the brain and regular physical activity has been proven to reduce stress – one of the main triggers of migraine attacks in many individuals.
If you want to try exercise as a means of relieving headaches, start slowly and gradually increase its intensity. Cardiovascular exercises such as brisk walking, running or swimming, yoga and other forms of low-impact aerobics, or weight lifting and strength training could all be effective approaches for improving overall wellbeing.
Do neck and shoulder stretches to relieve tension headaches. One such stretch, known as the Head Nod Exercise, entails stretching your first joint in your neck – C1. To do this, place one hand under your armpit while moving your head back toward it until a stretch develops on either side.
