What causes headaches behind the eyes. How to identify different types of headaches. Which treatments are most effective for headaches behind the eyes. When to seek medical attention for eye-related headaches. How to prevent headaches behind the eyes.

Understanding Headaches Behind the Eyes: Types and Characteristics

Headaches that manifest with pain behind the eyes can be particularly troublesome and often indicate specific underlying conditions. To effectively manage these headaches, it’s crucial to identify their type and understand their unique characteristics.

Migraine Headaches

Migraines are a common culprit for pain behind the eyes. These intense headaches typically begin with discomfort around the eye and temple area, potentially spreading to the back of the head. What sets migraines apart from other headaches? They often come with additional symptoms:

• Visual disturbances (aura) such as halos or flashing lights
• Nausea
• Runny nose or congestion
• Sensitivity to light, sounds, or smells

Migraine duration can vary significantly, lasting anywhere from several hours to a few days. This extended timeline can significantly impact daily life and productivity.

Tension Headaches

As the most prevalent type of headache, tension headaches often manifest as a dull pain on both sides of the head or across the forehead, extending behind the eyes. How can you distinguish tension headaches from other types? Look for these characteristics:

• Accompanying shoulder and neck pain
• Duration of 20 minutes to a few hours
• Less severe pain compared to migraines

Cluster Headaches

Although less common, cluster headaches are known for their intense pain, often concentrated around one eye. Why are they called “cluster” headaches? They typically occur in groups or clusters, with several attacks happening daily for weeks, followed by extended periods of remission.

Cluster headaches are characterized by:

• Severe, localized pain
• Watery eyes
• Congestion
• Flushed face
• Short duration (30-60 minutes per attack)
• Restlessness during attacks

Interestingly, cluster headaches predominantly affect men and can be particularly challenging to manage due to their intensity and frequency.

Differentiating Sinus Headaches and Eye Strain

While sinus headaches and eye strain can both cause discomfort behind the eyes, they have distinct characteristics and origins.

Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches result from inflammation in the sinus cavities, often due to infection. They typically cause pain around the eyes, nose, forehead, cheeks, and upper teeth. How can you tell if your headache is sinus-related?

• Presence of fever
• Congestion
• Thick nasal discharge
• Pain that worsens throughout the day

It’s worth noting that true sinus headaches are relatively rare. Many headaches diagnosed as sinus-related are actually migraines or cluster headaches.

Eye Strain

Eye strain occurs when your eyes become fatigued from prolonged use, such as staring at a computer screen or driving for extended periods. While not a headache in the traditional sense, eye strain can cause discomfort behind the eyes. Symptoms of eye strain include:

• Sore, itching, or burning eyes
• Watery eyes
• Blurred vision
• Sore shoulders or back

Unlike other headache types, eye strain usually resolves with rest and is not considered a serious condition.

Identifying Triggers for Headaches Behind the Eyes

Understanding what triggers your headaches is crucial for effective management and prevention. Different types of headaches may have distinct triggers.

Migraine Triggers

Migraines can be set off by a variety of factors, including:

• Lack of sleep
• Weather changes
• Stress
• Bright lights or loud noises
• Strong smells
• Certain foods or drinks (e.g., alcohol, chocolate, MSG)
• Skipping meals

Tension Headache Triggers

Tension headaches may be triggered by:

• Stress
• Eye strain
• Poor posture
• Neck or jaw muscle/joint problems
• Fatigue
• Dehydration
• Bright sunlight
• Certain smells

Cluster Headache Triggers

Cluster headaches often have more specific triggers, including:

• Alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• Certain medications

By identifying and avoiding your personal triggers, you may be able to reduce the frequency and severity of your headaches.

Effective Treatments for Headaches Behind the Eyes

The treatment approach for headaches behind the eyes varies depending on the type and severity of the headache. From over-the-counter medications to prescription drugs and lifestyle changes, there are numerous options available.

Over-the-Counter Medications

For occasional headaches, over-the-counter pain relievers can be effective. Which medications are commonly recommended?

• Acetaminophen
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen

These medications can be particularly helpful for tension headaches and may even alleviate migraines if taken early enough. However, it’s crucial to use them judiciously, as overuse can lead to medication-overuse headaches.

Prescription Medications

For more severe or frequent headaches, prescription medications may be necessary. What types of prescription drugs are used for different headaches?

• Tension headaches: Antidepressants like amitriptyline
• Migraines: Triptans (e.g., almotriptan, eletriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan)
• Chronic migraines: Beta-blockers or antidepressants for prevention
• Cluster headaches: Oxygen therapy, injectable triptans, lidocaine nasal drops, verapamil, or prednisone
• Sinus headaches: Antibiotics and decongestants to treat the underlying infection

It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate medication for your specific situation.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes

In addition to medications, various home remedies and lifestyle modifications can help alleviate headaches behind the eyes. What are some effective non-medication approaches?

• Migraine relief: Caffeine consumption or application of ice packs
• Tension headache relief: Use of heating pads, warm showers, or rest
• Stress management: Practice of relaxation techniques like yoga or deep breathing
• Sinus headache relief: Inhalation of warm, moist air from a vaporizer or steam
• General headache prevention: Maintaining regular meal times and adequate sleep

These non-pharmaceutical approaches can be particularly beneficial when used in conjunction with appropriate medications.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Headaches Behind the Eyes

While many headaches can be managed at home, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. When should you consult a healthcare provider about your headaches?

• Sudden, severe headache often described as the “worst headache of your life”
• Headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, or vision changes
• Headache following a head injury
• Chronic headaches that do not respond to over-the-counter treatments
• Headaches that interfere significantly with daily activities

These symptoms could indicate more serious underlying conditions that require prompt medical evaluation and treatment.

Preventing Headaches Behind the Eyes: Lifestyle Strategies

Prevention is often the best approach to managing headaches behind the eyes. What lifestyle strategies can help reduce the frequency and severity of these headaches?

Stress Management

Stress is a common trigger for many types of headaches. Implementing effective stress management techniques can significantly reduce headache occurrence. Consider:

• Regular exercise
• Meditation or mindfulness practices
• Time management strategies
• Adequate sleep

Dietary Considerations

Your diet can play a crucial role in headache prevention. What dietary strategies can help?

• Maintain regular meal times to prevent low blood sugar
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day
• Identify and avoid personal food triggers (e.g., caffeine, alcohol, certain additives)
• Consider keeping a food diary to track potential triggers

Environmental Modifications

Your environment can significantly impact headache frequency. How can you modify your surroundings to prevent headaches?

• Ensure proper lighting in your work and living spaces
• Use blue light filters on digital devices
• Maintain good posture, especially when working at a desk
• Take regular breaks from screen time
• Use air purifiers to reduce potential irritants

Advanced Treatments for Chronic Headaches Behind the Eyes

For individuals suffering from chronic or severe headaches behind the eyes that do not respond to conventional treatments, advanced therapies may be considered. What are some of these cutting-edge treatments?

Botox Injections

Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections have shown promise in treating chronic migraines. How does this treatment work?

• Injections are administered to specific points in the head and neck
• The treatment works by blocking neurotransmitters that carry pain signals
• Effects typically last for about three months
• Multiple treatment cycles may be necessary for optimal results

Nerve Stimulation Devices

Various nerve stimulation devices have been developed to treat and prevent headaches. What are some examples of these devices?

• Transcutaneous supraorbital nerve stimulation (t-SNS) devices
• Vagus nerve stimulators
• Occipital nerve stimulators

These devices work by delivering electrical or magnetic pulses to specific nerves, potentially disrupting pain signals and providing relief.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese healing practice, has shown potential in treating various types of headaches. How might acupuncture help with headaches behind the eyes?

• It may help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines
• Can potentially alleviate tension headaches
• May work by stimulating the body’s natural pain-relieving mechanisms

While more research is needed, many individuals report significant relief from headaches through regular acupuncture sessions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of psychotherapy that can be particularly beneficial for individuals with chronic headaches. How does CBT help with headache management?

• Teaches coping strategies for pain
• Helps identify and modify thought patterns that may contribute to headaches
• Provides techniques for stress management and relaxation
• Can be especially effective when combined with other treatments

By addressing the psychological aspects of chronic pain, CBT can significantly improve quality of life for those suffering from persistent headaches behind the eyes.

The Future of Headache Treatment: Emerging Research and Therapies

The field of headache research is continually evolving, with new treatments and understanding emerging regularly. What are some of the most promising areas of research for headaches behind the eyes?

CGRP Antagonists

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists represent a new class of drugs specifically designed for migraine prevention. How do these drugs work?

• They block the action of CGRP, a protein involved in pain transmission
• Can potentially reduce the frequency and severity of migraines
• Available in both injectable and oral forms

Early results have been promising, with many patients experiencing significant reductions in migraine frequency.

Neuromodulation Techniques

Advanced neuromodulation techniques are being explored for headache treatment. What are some examples of these techniques?

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• Deep brain stimulation
• Sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation

These techniques aim to modulate brain activity or specific nerve pathways to reduce headache frequency and intensity.

Precision Medicine Approaches

The concept of precision medicine is gaining traction in headache treatment. How might this approach benefit headache sufferers?

• Genetic testing to identify individual risk factors and potential treatment responses
• Personalized treatment plans based on genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors
• Targeted therapies designed for specific headache subtypes or patient profiles

By tailoring treatments to individual patients, precision medicine approaches hold the promise of more effective and efficient headache management.

As research continues to advance our understanding of headaches behind the eyes, new and more effective treatments are likely to emerge. For those suffering from chronic or severe headaches, staying informed about these developments and discussing them with healthcare providers can open up new avenues for relief and improved quality of life.

Headache Behind Eye: Causes, Triggers, and Treatment

Written by Mary Jo DiLonardo, John Donovan

Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on December 13, 2022

• What Is a Headache Behind the Eye?
• Causes of Headache Behind the Eye
• Headache Behind the Eye Triggers
• Headache Behind the Eye Treatment
• Waking Up With a Headache Behind the Eyes?

If you feel pain behind your eyes, there are many possible causes. There’s a good chance it could be a specific type of headache.

Migraine headaches

These headaches often begin with pain around your eye and temple. They can spread to the back of your head. You might also have an aura, which can include visual signs like a halo or flashing lights that sometimes come before the pain starts.

Getting a headache behind your eyes can happen for a wide range of reasons, including migraine and sleep problems.

You may also have nausea, a runny nose, or congestion. You could be sensitive to light, sounds, or smells. Migraine headaches can last several hours to a few days.

Tension headaches

These are the most common type of headache. They usually cause a dull pain on both sides of your head or across the front of your head, behind your eyes. Your shoulders and neck may also hurt. Tension headaches might last 20 minutes to a few hours.

Cluster headaches

These cause severe pain around your eyes, often around just one eye. They usually come in groups. You may have several of them every day for weeks and then not have any for a year or more before they start again.

Along with the pain, you may also have watery eyes, congestion, and a red, flushed face. The attacks last 30 to 60 minutes and are so strong that you may be restless and can’t stand still while they happen. Cluster headaches aren’t very common and mostly happen in men.

Sinus headaches

A sinus infection (sinusitis) can cause a headache around your eyes, nose, forehead, cheeks, and upper teeth. This is where your sinuses are. You’ll often also have a fever, congestion, and a thick nasal discharge. The pain usually gets worse throughout the day.

True sinus headaches are rare. Migraine and cluster headaches are often mistaken for sinus headaches.

Eyestrain

This is when your eyes get tired from working too hard from doing things like staring at a computer screen or driving for a long time.

Other symptoms can include:

• Sore, itching, burning eyes
• Watery eyes
• Blurred vision
• Sore shoulders or back

Eyestrain isn’t serious and usually goes away when you rest your eyes.

Different things may set off each type of headache.

You might get migraines because of:

• A lack of sleep
• Weather changes
• Stress
• Lights
• Noises
• Smells
• Things you eat or drink, like alcohol, chocolate, or MSG
• Missing a meal

Things that may give you a tension headache include:

• Stress
• Eyestrain
• Poor posture
• Problems with the muscles or joints in your neck or jaw
• Fatigue
• Dehydration or missing a meal
• Bright sunlight
• Noise
• Certain smells

Cluster headaches are often triggered by alcohol, smoking, or certain medications.

Learning to avoid your triggers may prevent headaches or make them less painful. If you do get one, there are many kinds of treatments.

Medication for headache behind the eye

Over-the-counter pain medicine can ease occasional headaches. It may even help with migraine if you take it early enough. Doctors often recommend acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen. But remember that taking them too often can trigger overuse headaches.

If you get frequent tension headaches, your doctor may prescribe medication. Antidepressants like amitriptyline help many people.

Sometimes, prescription drugs are the only things that will ease migraine pain. Some of the most common are triptans such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). They help most people within 2 hours if taken early enough. People who get chronic migraines often take medicine like beta-blockers or antidepressants every day to help cut back on how many they have.

Breathing pure oxygen may bring relief of cluster headaches. Injected triptans like sumatriptan and lidocaine nose drops might also help. Some people take medicines such as verapamil (Calan, Verelan) or prednisone to prevent attacks.

Treat a sinus headache by clearing up the infection. Your doctor might suggest antibiotics and decongestants.

Home remedies for headache behind the eye

Caffeine or ice packs may help with migraine pain.

For a tension headache, try a heating pad or a warm shower, or rest until the headache goes away. It can also help to find better ways to handle stress. Learn relaxation techniques like yoga or deep breathing. Try not to skip meals or get too tired.

When you have a sinus infection, breathe in warm, moist air from a vaporizer or a pot of boiling water to ease congestion. Warm compresses can also help.

If your eyes are often strained, take breaks and blink more. Artificial tears may also refresh your eyes. Check with your doctor to make sure your vision prescription is up to date, and ask about exercises to strengthen eye muscles.

If you wake up in the morning with a pounding headache behind your eyes, you’re not alone. Here’s a look at some common causes of morning headaches:

Hangovers. After drinking too much alcohol, when your blood alcohol content drops back to normal or close to it, you start to feel symptoms that can include headaches. They can be caused by a couple of things. When you drink, the alcohol causes your body to make more urine, which can cause you to become dehydrated. The alcohol also causes your blood vessels to expand, which can lead to headaches. If you have more severe symptoms like confusion, seizures, slow breathing, or loss of consciousness, get medical help right away.

Migraine. The most common time for a migraine to happen is the early morning as pain medication you took before you went to sleep begins to wear off. But migraine headaches are complicated. They’re different for everybody. If you have a migraine or headache of any type that continually wakes you in the morning and gets in the way of your work or personal life, a doctor’s visit may be in order. Treatments, including over-the-counter and prescription medications, are available.

Sleep apnea. This is a condition where your throat muscles partially collapse while you sleep and interrupt your breathing. Other signs of sleep apnea include dry mouth and snoring. Sleep apnea is a serious health problem. Your doctor may suggest that you do a sleep test. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine might help, and lifestyle changes like losing weight and rolling off your back while you sleep could also help you get better rest.

Other sleep disorders. The relationship between sleep and headaches is a tricky one. Sometimes headaches are the cause of poor sleep, sometimes they’re the result of it. If it’s hard to get to sleep, stay asleep, or if you just wake up too early, you may have insomnia. It’s been tied to some forms of chronic headaches, including morning headaches. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders mess with when you fall to sleep or wake up. They can lead to morning headaches, too. If you think you may have a sleep disorder, see your doctor.

Overmedication. A medication overuse headache (MOH) can happen if you’re already prone to headaches and you take a lot of pain meds. A MOH usually hits right when you wake up. For those with chronic headaches, using medication more than 2 or 3 days a week may be too much. Check with your doctor about this. They can help you treat your headaches without overusing pain meds.

TMJ. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull. Pain in the joint and its surrounding muscles, caused by things like too much gum chewing or clenching and grinding your teeth at night, can bring a morning headache. A dentist can prescribe an oral device to keep you from grinding your teeth at night. 

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Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatments, and More

Written by Hedy Marks

• Symptoms
• Causes
• How It’s Diagnosed
• Treatments

Occipital neuralgia is a condition in which the nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp, called the occipital nerves, are inflamed or injured. You might feel pain in the back of your head or the base of your skull.

People can confuse it with a migraine or other types of headache, because the symptoms can be similar. But treatments for those conditions are very different, so it’s important to see your doctor to get the right diagnosis.

Occipital neuralgia can cause intense pain that feels like a sharp, jabbing, electric shock in the back of the head and neck. Other symptoms include:

• Aching, burning, and throbbing pain that typically starts at the base of the head and goes to the scalp
• Pain on one or both sides of the head
• Pain behind the eye
• Sensitivity to light
• Tender scalp
• Pain when you move your neck

Occipital neuralgia happens when there’s pressure or irritation to your occipital nerves, maybe because of an injury, tight muscles that entrap the nerves, or inflammation. Many times, doctors can’t find a cause for it.

Some medical conditions are linked to it, including:

• Trauma to the back of the head
• Neck tension or tight neck muscles
• Osteoarthritis
• Tumors in the neck
• Cervical disc disease
• Infection
• Gout
• Diabetes
• Blood vessel inflammation

Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history and about any injuries you’ve had. They’ll do a physical exam, too. They’ll press firmly around the back of your head to see if they can reproduce your pain.

They may also give you a shot to numb the nerve, called a nerve block, to see if it gives you relief. If it works, occipital neuralgia is likely the cause of the pain. You might also have blood tests or an MRI scan if your doctor thinks your case isn’t typical. 

You have to get the right diagnosis to get the right treatment. For example, if you have occipital neuralgia and you get a prescription for migraine medication, you may not get relief.

The first thing you’ll want to do is to relieve your pain. You can try to:

• Apply heat to your neck.
• Rest in a quiet room.
• Massage tight and painful neck muscles.
• Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, like naproxen or ibuprofen.

If those don’t help, your doctor may prescribe medications for you, including:

• Prescription muscle relaxants
• Antiseizure drugs, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and gabapentin (Neurontin)
• Antidepressants
• Nerve blocks and steroid shots. The nerve block that your doctor might do to diagnose your condition can be a short-term treatment, too. It may take two to three shots over several weeks to get control of your pain. It’s not uncommon for the problem to return at some point and to need another series of injections.

An operation is rare, but it might be an option if your pain doesn’t get better with other treatments or comes back. Surgery may include:

• Microvascular decompression. Your doctor may be able to relieve pain by finding and adjusting blood vessels that may be compressing your nerve.
• Occipital nerve stimulation. Your doctor uses a device called a neurostimulator to deliver electrical pulses to your occipital nerves. They can help block pain messages to the brain.

Occipital neuralgia is not a life-threatening condition. Most people get good pain relief by resting and taking medication. But if you still hurt, tell your doctor. They’ll want to see if there’s another problem that’s causing your pain.

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Reasons. How to relieve a headache. Headache remedies

Headaches can be caused by many factors, but the most common cause is head and neck muscle tension, which can be caused by stress, fatigue, bad posture, awkward posture when working on a computer or phone, not getting enough sleep, as well as prolonged reading or eye strain in low light. These simple tricks will help you quickly get rid of a headache without medication.

Massage: how to do it correctly, duration, massage zones

Head and neck massage. Gently massaging the head and neck can help relax muscles and reduce tension, leading to better circulation and less pain. If it is not possible to go to a chiropractor, then you can do a head and neck massage yourself.

Head and neck massage by yourself.

Compress and headband: how to do, where to apply

The use of a cold or hot compress will quickly relieve muscle spasms and facilitate the functioning of cerebral vessels. A cold compress can reduce inflammation and soreness, while a hot compress can help relax muscles. You can apply cold and hot compresses both on the focus of pain and around it.

Ginger

Ginger. Photo © shutterstock

Drinking ginger tea is also effective for headaches. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce soreness and improve circulation. It contains a variety of bioactive compounds, including gingerols, shogaols, and zingiberenes, which may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving effects on the body. In addition, ginger can help dilate blood vessels, improve circulation, and reduce tension in the muscles of the head and neck, which can also lead to headache relief.

Almond oil: for face and head

Almond oil can help reduce soreness and improve circulation when applied to the forehead and temples. Almond oil helps with headaches due to its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. It contains many beneficial biologically active substances, including vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, phytosterols and antioxidants. The omega-3 fatty acids found in almond oil can help reduce localized inflammation. In addition, vitamin E, which is also found in almond oil, is a strong antioxidant and reduces inflammation and pain.

Lavender oil

The use of this oil helps to reduce soreness and calm the nervous system. Apply a few drops to whiskey or take an aromatic bath. It cannot directly help in relieving headaches, but it contains many useful biologically active substances, including linalool and linaluyl acetate, which are natural sedatives. Lavender oil can help reduce tension and stress that cause headaches. It improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and reduces muscle tension, which can also lead to pain relief.

Juniper and eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus oil. Photo © Shutterstock

Juniper contains terpenes that can help reduce inflammation and pain in the head. Eucalyptus oil contains camphor, which is a natural anesthetic and helps relieve headaches. In addition, eucalyptus oil can help improve blood circulation and reduce tension, which also leads to a reduction in headaches.

For headaches, you can add a few drops of the oil from this mixture to warm water and inhale the vapors, or apply the oil to your temples or massage your neck.

Peppermint tea recipe how to brew

Peppermint contains menthol, which is a natural anesthetic and antispasmodic that can help reduce pain and relax the scalp muscles. In addition, mint has anti-inflammatory properties: it reduces local inflammation. The antibacterial properties of mint also reduce the risk of headaches caused by infection. Peppermint tea can also help improve circulation and reduce tension, leading to less headaches. How to make mint tea?

1. Bring water to a boil.
2. Place dried or fresh mint in a teapot or mug (1-2 teaspoons per cup).
3. Top the mint with boiling water and let it steep for about 5-7 minutes.
4. Add honey or lemon to taste.
5. Strain the tea through a strainer or cheesecloth.

Fresh mint tea can be drunk hot or cooled and drunk as an iced tea. It can be effective in relieving headaches, especially if the headache is related to stress or fatigue.

Evgeny Zhukov

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6 Ways to Relieve Stress Headaches Named

• Health

Stress can be a key cause and trigger of excruciating migraines. Here are six expert tips on how to deal effectively with it.

April 11, 2022

Source:

Getty Images

Our way of life, the endless race – goals, tasks, career, “overdose” of digital information, do not make people healthier, but, on the contrary, cause diseases and conditions that did not bother us before.

In the first lines – migraine, in which a person experiences severe headaches, most often localized in the forehead and temples. Other signs of a migraine include sensitivity to light and loud sounds, nausea, and vomiting.

Migraines of varying intensity and frequency can be caused by common triggers such as strong perfume, hunger, certain foods such as cheese, chocolate and smoked meats. In addition, pain can be provoked by improperly selected glasses, sleep disturbances and stress.

Here are some ways you can help relieve stress-induced migraines. Advice from pharmacist Parvinder Sagu is published by The Mirror.

See also

Rest in a dark room

If you suffer from migraines, you may be sensitive to light and sound. In this case, it is worth moving to a dimly lit or even completely dark room for the duration of the attack.

But just lying down is not enough. Close your eyes and try to relieve muscle tension, relax your back, shoulders and neck – to do this, exhale, relaxing your chest, and lower your shoulders to the stop, then straighten along the body and relax your arms – one by one.

Try to remain still (moving can make the attack worse) and rest for a few hours, or at least until the migraine subsides a little. If you fall asleep, this can also help get rid of an attack.

Hot or cold compress

Both cold and heat can help reduce the pain and muscle tension that comes with migraines.

Try to massage the muscles in the bath with a hot jet from the shower, direct them to the place where it hurts. A heating pad, a warm towel, or a compress are also helpful.

If, on the contrary, the cold helps you, soak a towel in cold water and apply it to your forehead, temples, and neck.

Try acupressure

Acupressure is a type of reflexology where the effect is achieved by pressing on certain points of the body. This is a type of targeted massage that can, in some cases, quickly relieve the pain of a stressful migraine.

One of the tricks:

• place your thumbs at the base of the skull in small “holes” on both sides – where the head meets the neck, slight pressure,

• while pressing, make small circles with your thumbs – continue the procedure for about two to three minutes. This should ease your headache.

See also

Get your dose of caffeine

Be careful here. For some, caffeine is a migraine trigger, and a cup of coffee may well make the pain worse.

But caffeine can help others, especially stress-induced migraines. In this case, it can act as an anesthetic.