Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen to help relieve your headache. [3] X Expert Source Eric Baron, DOBoard Certified Neurologist Expert Interview. 13 September 2021. [4] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Over-the-counter pain relievers are good for relieving tension headaches. [5] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Have no more than 500 mg of caffeine daily, which is about five cups of coffee. [7] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Try drinking one cup of coffee, soda, chocolate milk, or tea for some caffeine-related relief. [8] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Drinking a caffeinated beverage may help relieve pain faster if taken in conjunction with a pain reliever because it helps the body absorb medication more quickly. [9] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Make sure that the water is between 36 and 40 degrees Celcius (or 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit) so that you don’t burn your skin. You can use a thermometer to check the temperatures. [12] X Research source A whirlpool tub can help relieve your headache because the jets will massage your muscles and relax you. [13] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Epsom salts can have a sedative effect and may help further relax you and relieve the headache. [14] X Research source
You can use an ice pack as often as necessary for 20 minutes at a time. [17] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source You can freeze a plastic foam cup full of water to gently massage the affected area. [18] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source You can also try a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a dishtowel. The frozen vegetables conform to the shape of the neck and may be more comfortable than an ice pack. If it is too cold or your skin gets numb, remove the pack. Use a towel between the ice pack and your skin to help prevent frostbite. [19] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
There are many types of massage available, including Swedish massage and deep-tissue massage. Your therapist will select an evidence-based approach and apply it during the session after obtaining informed consent. You can locate a qualified massage therapist either online or through a doctor’s recommendation. [23] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If you can’t get to a professional massage therapist, try self-massage. Rubbing your face, temples, or even just massaging your ears can help relieve a bad headache. [24] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Specifically, you want to stimulate the following acupressure points: GB 20 (Feng Chi), GB21 (Jian Jing), LI4 (He Gu), TE3 (Zhong Zhu), and LI10 (Shou San Li). [27] X Research source The video at http://exploreim. ucla. edu/video/acupressure-points-for-neck-pain-and-headache/ can help you locate these points and also offers tips on how to employ acupressure for relieving your headache. If you prefer, you can find a practitioner of Eastern medicine in your local area to perform acupressure on you.
You don’t need anything more than water to keep yourself hydrated. If you prefer sports drinks or juices, make sure to drink them in conjunction with some water throughout the course of the day.
Fruit, nuts, granola, and canned soups are good snacks. You could also eat yogurt or some hummus and pita. [31] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If you are experiencing any nausea or vomiting with your headache, you may not want or be able to keep anything down. In this case, try some broth. [32] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source In addition, if you are experiencing these symptoms, you should see your primary care doctor.
Essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, rosemary, bergamot, peppermint and eucalyptus can help relieve a headache. [34] X Research source There are many different ways to use essential oils. You can massage it into your temples or on your ears, or use a scent diffuser. [35] X Research source Peppermint and eucalyptus candies may help alleviate the pain. [36] X Research source
Set temperature in bedroom to between 60-75 degrees for optimal sleeping conditions. [40] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Keep computers, TV and work materials out of room as much as possible to help yourself rest without stress or stimulation. [41] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Light stimulates you to be awake, so make sure that your room is dark enough to help your brain rest and fall asleep. You can use curtains or eye masks to help with rooms that are exposed to a lot of light. [42] X Research source Noise will also keep you from getting to sleep and may exacerbate your headache. Keep your room as quiet as possible and consider a white noise machine to combat any loud noises that may filter into your bedroom. [43] X Expert Source Eric Baron, DOBoard Certified Neurologist Expert Interview. 13 September 2021. [44] X Research source A comfortable mattress, pillows, and bedding can help you relax and fall asleep. [45] X Research source
Meditation can force you to unplug from distractions around you. Having this unplugged time can help you relax. [48] X Expert Source Sari Eitches, MBE, MDSleep Specialist Expert Interview. 3 April 2020. Start with five to 10 minutes of meditation and gradually increase your time as necessary. Find a quiet and comfortable place where you’ll be uninterrupted. By eliminating any distractions, it is easier to focus on your breath, relieve pain, and let go of any thoughts or sensations that may arise. Sit upright and still and close your eyes. Proper posture is a vital part of meditation. It allows your breath and blood to flow, which helps your brain learn to focus on one point. Closing your eyes will help keep distractions at bay. Breathe easily and evenly. Don’t control your breath; rather, let it come and go. An excellent technique to help your concentration is to focus solely on your breath by saying “let” on the inhale and “go” on the exhale.
For example, if you have a really bad headache and have screaming children around you, take a deep breath and think of yourself on a beach in Hawaii or someplace else you’d rather be.
Your physician will zero in on the correct diagnosis and exclude competing diagnoses in an attempt to pick the correct therapy. She will determine the need for additional testing at this appointment, which may include but is not limited to a blood pressure check, additional cardiovascular review, blood work, head imaging, and more.
Your doctor may give you prescription pain relievers including sumatriptan and zolmitriptan. [52] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Your doctor may give you preventative medications including metoprolol tartrate, propranolol, amitriptyline, divalproex sodium, and topiramate. Many of the preventative medications are especially effective on migraines because they counteract blood vessel constriction or the painful dilation stage. Some antidepressants may also help prevent extremely bad headaches.
Oxygen therapy is most effective when used right at the start of a headache. [55] X Research source You must resume treatment when another headache begins. [56] X Research source
There are some studies showing that Botox, which is the Botulinum toxin type A, can help relieve and prevent bad headaches. Discuss this with your doctor should your headache not improve with standard therapy. Transcranial magnetic stimulation uses electric currents to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, which may help minimize the pain associated with headaches as well as their recurrence. [57] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
