4 Ways to Quickly Relieve Head Pain

• The best ways to get rid of a headache include drinking more water, eating balanced meals, trying relaxation techniques like deep breathing, and taking medication like Tylenol. 
• Headaches can be caused by many factors — including stress, poor diet, and underlying medical conditions — and figuring out what’s triggering your headache can be important for treating it. 
• This article was medically reviewed by Medhat Mikhael, MD, pain management specialist and medical director of the non-operative program at the Spine Health Center at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center. 
• Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

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A headache is one of the most common and irritating types of pain. In order to relieve your headache, it’s first helpful to know what’s causing it. 

There are two main types of headaches. A primary headache occurs independently of any other medical condition. Whereas a secondary headache is a side effect of another health issue such as a sinus infection or high blood pressure.

Secondary headaches are most effectively treated by addressing the underlying medical condition. But there are many simple ways to get rid of a primary headache. Here’s how. 

How to get rid of a headache

“When it comes to primary headaches that have no other underlying cause, figuring out your headache ‘triggers’ and avoiding them is the best defense,” says Vernon Williams, MD, director of the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute. 

Headache triggers can be a specific part of your lifestyle — like diet, stress, or sleep habits — that bring on the pain of a headache. Here are the best ways to avoid or get rid of your triggers:

• Hydrate. If you suspect dehydration could be the cause of your head pain, make sure you’re drinking enough water each day. Experts recommend dividing your weight by two, so if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink about 75 fluid ounces each day. “As your body becomes dehydrated, the blood vessels of your brain narrow in an attempt to conserve water,” says Carrie Lam, MD, a physician. And stay away from alcohol — congeners, the chemicals present in alcoholic beverages, can also trigger headaches. 
• Eat balanced meals. If you have poor eating habits, like skipping meals or frequently snacking, you could experience headaches triggered by changes in blood sugar. Individuals who are prone to headaches should begin by focusing on eating three balanced meals each day that include a healthy source of protein — such as milk, fish, or meat. From there, you may be able to recognize food sensitivities by taking note of how you feel following a meal or snack, and determining which aspects of your diet may be causing your headaches.  
• Deep breathing. Stress can increase muscle tension, dilate blood vessels, and trigger headaches — and tension headaches are often associated with stress. Tension headaches can include pain in the forehead, the scalp, and the neck. If stress is behind your headache, deep breathing techniques may help you relax. Something as simple as slowing down your breath — for example, counting to five as you inhale and then five again as you exhale — can help you handle stressors and relieve head pain. Trying meditation or yoga may also help. 
• Medication. “Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, acetaminophen, and caffeine are over-the-counter treatments that many patients find effective at stopping a migraine headache in its tracks,” says Williams. Acetaminophen, like Tylenol, relieves headache symptoms by blocking pain signals to the brain. Anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen or Advil, keep the body from producing chemicals responsible for inflammation. These medications can often work for tension headaches, as well. 

When to see a doctor for your headache 

“Most headaches are episodic, meaning they are infrequent and don’t require medical attention,” says Williams. One of the treatment methods above may provide relief, or the headache can even resolve on its own. 

However, more severe or persistent head pain should be checked out by a doctor. If your headache occurs three or more times in one month, Williams says, then it’s a good idea to speak with your primary care provider. 

In addition, headaches that follow physical injury or include other concerning symptoms may require serious medical attention. 

“If a headache follows a blow to the head, is accompanied by sudden, excruciating pain, a stiff neck, fever, convulsions, confusion, loss of consciousness, or associated with severe pain in the eye or ear, then immediate medical evaluation is crucial,” says Williams. 

Finally, you may want to see your doctor if you experience headaches alongside blurring of vision, double vision, facial numbness, or any cognitive changes. Even if these symptoms go away, it’s important to get yourself checked out. 

three tips from a neuroscientist on how to get rid of them

Everyone experiences headaches. From dull throbbing dehydration headaches to incapacitating migraines, a sore head is an extremely common complaint. This is perhaps especially true at the moment. COVID-19 can cause them, as can sitting at desks for too long and not getting out of the house enough.

When headaches strike, many people’s reaction is to reach for a painkiller. And these can do the job. But a better solution is often to probe the reasons behind the pain – especially if you get similar types of headaches a lot.

Even though they all entail pain, where the pain is can clue us into what type of headache we are experiencing. Pain in the face and forehead are markers of sinus-related headache whilst the sensation of a pneumatic drill somewhere in our cranium is often migraine.

Where you experience the pain can be some clue as to what type of headache you have.
Africa Studio/Shutterstock

But ultimately, all headaches are caused by vasodilation in the head – the widening of blood vessels near the brain. This stretches sensory receptors in the vessel wall and we feel that sensation as pain.

To understand why we need to think about the constraints the contents of our head are working under. Blood is toxic to brain tissue and so is kept separate through the blood-brain barrier. If a blood vessel leaks or breaks, this results in a haemorrhage and the death of the brain tissue the blood seeps into. So, if our blood vessels dilate beyond comfortable limits, the sensory receptors will fire off signals to the brain, which we interpret as pain.

Headaches are an early warning system. The best way to counteract them is to work out what they are warning us about.

1. Think beyond your head

Bloomsbury Publishing

This means thinking beyond your head. Yes, headache pain is generated somewhere in our head and we feel it in our head and that is why it is called headache. But headache is so much more than that – which is why I’m fascinated by them, have studied them for the past 20 years and recently published a book on the subject.

It’s a two-way street. The cause of our headache can sometimes come from our body or our behaviour. And of course headaches affect both our body and our behaviour. If we see headache as something isolated to our cranium then we will never truly understand its cause, our experience of it, or how we can best mitigate it.

Frequent migraine sufferers intimately understand this and often religiously track their food intake and their activities as well as the weather in order to work out what triggers them. But the normal headache sufferer is often less in tune with the causes of their pain.

Tension headache is a really good example of how this works. It feels like a tight band squeezing around your head with a tonne weight sitting on top for good measure. We are all aware of their occurrence at times of great emotional stress (lockdown homeschooling anyone?) but they can equally be caused by the stress we put on our body, with bad posture for example, or recovery from injury.

Both entail over-activity of the musculature around the head and neck, which sets up an inflammatory response involving prostaglandins and nitric oxide, both of which are chemicals that act to widen blood vessels. Inflammatory chemicals also directly activate the trigeminal nerve – the most complex of the cranial nerves and the one responsible for sensation and movement in the face.

Taking too many things on, rushing around trying to get things done in negative time, and trying to be all things to all people are common behavioural markers that will predict a tension headache. That and the actions we take when the pain begins.

Bad posture – especially that associated with desk work – can lead to tension in the neck and then to headache.
Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock.com

2. Listen to the pain

If you have a pain in your leg, it might stop you from playing in that tennis match or turning up for five-a-side football. You know that if you play on it, you might do more damage and your recovery will take longer. But we don’t tend to do that with headache. We take a painkiller or an anti-inflammatory and carry on as normal even though our pain receptors are screaming at us that there is something wrong.

Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen will act to avert the danger, reducing the inflammation, the dilation and the perception of pain, but the headache will reoccur unless we can address the cause. Sometimes it’s obvious – if you have a sinus headache you’re just going to have to wait for your sinuses to clear, so taking a painkiller or a decongestant may be a good approach – but sometimes our coping strategy can make things worse.

We may decide a bottle of wine and a takeaway is just the kind of treat we need to relax and de-stress. But both lead to dehydration, another ubiquitous cause of headache. With your brain made of more than 70% water, if your kidneys need borrow some to dilute alcohol or salts and spices, it usually comes from this oasis. The brain loses water such that it literally shrinks in volume, tugging on the membranes covering the brain and triggering pain.

3. Use the brain’s natural painkillers

So what else can we do? One way is to lean into the brain’s natural painkiller system and to boost neurochemicals associated with happiness (such as serotonin and oxytocin) and reward (dopamine). Having a laugh at a comedy, enjoying a good friend’s company or indulging in some intimacy with a partner will all boost these hormones to various degrees.

Each block pain signals coming from the body, not only helping you get a handle on your headache but also redressing the balance of neurochemicals that were the mechanism of your upset emotional state.

The knowledge that we can leverage our behaviour and our body to keep our brain’s neurochemicals in balance gives us a way to break the headache cycle. So next time you have a headache for which the causes aren’t glaringly obvious – you’re not otherwise sick and you’ve been keeping hydrated – take a look at your life and see what you can change there. The pain, after all, is trying to tell you something.

4 ways to tame tension headaches

If you ever had a tension headache, you know it can put a damper on your day. This kind of headache usually develops in the afternoon, causing mild or moderate pain that may feel like dull tightness or a band of pressure. Tension headaches occur when neck, shoulder, and scalp muscles become tense. Some people experience tension headaches from time to time; others get them more often. While a tension headache is rarely debilitating, it can certainly make life miserable.

If you have frequent tension headaches (more often than once or twice a week), here are some strategies that can show you how to get rid of a headache.

1. Pay attention to the basics. Get enough sleep, don’t skip meals, and be sure to pace yourself to avoid stress and fatigue.
2. Relaxation techniques. Physical and psychological relaxation therapies can help stave off tension headaches, so long as you practice these techniques regularly. Physical approaches include applying a heating pad to your neck and shoulders to relax the muscles. Exercising these muscles also helps by strengthening and stretching them. Guided imagery exercises that help you focus your attention on various parts of your body in order to relax them and release tension and stress can also help.
3. Biofeedback. This relaxation technique requires special training but can help people avoid recurrent tension headaches. Typically, a therapist will attach electrodes to your skin to detect electrical signals from your neck and shoulder muscles. You then learn to recognize when you are becoming tense and practice ways to relax the muscles before they tighten so much that you develop a tension headache.
4. Medical approaches. Some people with tension headaches have very sensitive areas, known as trigger points, at the back of the neck or in the shoulders. Injecting a local anesthetic into these areas may eliminate the pain and prevent the headache from occurring again. There are also a number of medications that can help keep tension headaches at bay. If non-drug therapies aren’t giving you the relief you need, talk with your doctor about the medication options that might be right for you.

For more information on preventing, diagnosing, and treating headaches, read 

Headache Relief: Preventing and treating migraines and other headaches

, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.

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should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

What If Aspirin Doesn’t Get Rid of My Headaches?: Samuel I. Fink, MD: Internal Medicine

Headaches are a common ailment that we see in many patients at the practice of Samuel I. Fink, MD. There are different causes of headaches, along with a few different types of headaches.

Typically, a dose of over-the-counter medicine, such as aspirin, is enough to quell the pain caused by a headache. But you do have other options available if aspirin doesn’t get rid of your headache.

What is aspirin?

Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), is an over-the-counter medicine used to relieve aches and pains — including pain from a headache. Aspirin is derived from salicylate, which comes from different plants such as myrtle and willow trees. It’s one of the most widely used medications across the globe.

Headaches that don’t go away, and how to handle them

You have different solutions depending on the type of headache you’re suffering from.

Tension headache

If aspirin has been ineffective at relieving your symptoms from a tension headache, there may be some alternative and home remedies you can follow to eliminate pain. Massage therapy can help relax tense muscles that cause tension headaches. You can practice self-massage techniques at home or visit a massage therapist to try and get relief.

An appropriate dose of caffeine can also help reduce tension headaches by restricting blood vessels that lead to your head.

Migraine

A number of different things can trigger migraines — severe throbbing that can last for hours or even days. To reduce the occurrence and effects of migraines, try maintaining a routine schedule that minimizes stress and adheres to regular mealtimes and a proper sleep schedule.

It’s important to speak with Dr. Fink if you’re suffering from migraines. He may decide the best course of action is to prescribe medication that’s stronger than over-the-counter pain relievers.

Rebound headache

Rebound headaches — also known as medication overuse headaches — can be caused by over-the-counter medication like aspirin. If you’re experiencing consecutive rebound headaches, it’s important to seek help from Dr. Fink sooner rather than later. He can guide you through proper treatment, which may include using antidepressants to eliminate your rebound headaches. 

When to see a doctor

It’s crucial to speak with Dr. Fink if you’re experiencing headaches that:

• Are becoming more frequent and more painful
• Are accompanied by fever, stiff neck, weight loss, or other symptoms
• Appear out of nowhere and cause severe pain and discomfort
• Interfere with your life

If you’re suffering from headaches and haven’t been able to find relief from aspirin or other over-the-counter medications, call Dr. Fink today or schedule an appointment online for a consultation.

How to Get Rid of a Migraine

If you’ve ever had a migraine, you know the feeling of wanting to put a drill to your head to somehow rid yourself of the pain, pressure, and throbbing. They destroy your day, and they can force you to seek a dark, quiet room for hours on end.

Unfortunately, migraines are (relatively) common: about six to nine percent of men get them.

“While migraines typically start in your earlier years, 30-40% of men start to get migraines between 20-40 years of age,” Gary Jay, MD, neurologist at UNC Health Care, tells MensHealth.com.

While there’s no cure for migraines, there are ways to treat them — and to do that, you have to understand what causes them. Here’s our guide on how to alleviate the hell that is migraines.

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What causes migraines?

A migraine can be best described as a headache on steroids.

“The pain is often described as throbbing or pulsing and usually begins on one side of the head, and typically last from 4 hours up to 3 days,” says Zubair Ahmed, MD, neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

Migraines are worsened by physical activity, light, sound, and even smell. You may also experience nausea and/or vomiting.

They can also be accompanied by auras, which affect about 20% of migraine sufferers.

“Auras include visual, sensory, cognitive and/or speech changes,” says Jay. “Auras last between 5-60 minutes prior to the migraine.” It’s said to look a little something like this:

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What causes migraines?

While we’re not entirely sure what causes migraines, according to the American Migraine Foundation, if one of your parents gets migraines, you are 50-75% more likely to get them as well.

“Migraines are a genetic condition. It is hardwired into some patients. Even in those patients who live a perfect lifestyle, avoiding other triggers and take all the right medications— if they have strong family history of migraine and genetically predisposed to the condition, at some point in their life they will develop migraine,” says Ahmed.

Apart from genetics, migraines are often caused by lifestyle factors.

“Living a healthy lifestyle is fundamental towards controlling migraine headaches. Certain triggers like poor diet, lack of exercise, inadequate sleep, repeated head trauma or stress, can develop migraine headaches,” says Dr. Ahmed.

How to get rid of migraines

As of now, there is no cure for migraines.

“There is no specific cure for migraine, but the condition can be managed with taking the right medications and having a healthy lifestyle – just as in other chronic conditions,” says Ahmed.

Here are a few ways to treat them:

1) Take riboflavin or magnesium supplements. “Some supplements including vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) and magnesium have been shown to be beneficial in preventing migraine,” says Ahmed. A 2018 review published in the journal Headache found that those who took 600mg of magnesium reduced the occurrence of migraines. And taking 400 mg of riboflavin has been shown to decrease migraines by about 2 per month.

2) Keep stress to a minimum. Stress can be a significant trigger. “Stress releases many chemicals in the brain that can either trigger migraine or make migraine worse. During stressful times, chemicals including epinephrine and cortisol are released into the blood. And as stress from the work week subsides and the chemicals decline, people may experience a weekend headache sometimes referred to as a ‘let-down migraine’, says Ahmed.

3) Get a prescription for medications. Migraine medications are divided into two different categories: abortive and preventative, says Jay.

Abortive medications are taken when your migraine begins, with the purpose of stopping your migraine in its tracks. One of the most commonly prescribed are called triptans, which work by stimulating serotonin in the brain that constricts blood vessels and reduces inflammation to reduce pain.

There are a few options when it comes to preventative medications. “Beta blockers, typically used to decrease blood pressure, have been found to help prevent migraines and are approved by the FDA,” says Jay. Anti-seizure drugs have also been found to help prevent migraines, including divalproex (Depakote), valproate (Depacon), and topiramate (Topamax).

You can also try the latest treatment approved in May 2018 by the FDA. Erenumab (Aimovig®) blocks a molecule called calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), which is elevated in patients who have migraines and is self-injected once a month.

“Although long-term side effects are unknown, it has been helpful for some of our patients,” says Dr. Ahmed.

4) Have sex. Seriously. A 2013 study found that 60% of people who had sex during a migraine reported improvements in their migraine and decreased pain.

5) Stop eating processed foods. Your junk food habit might be making your migraines worse. “Dietary triggers are different for each patient. It is important to identify triggers by keeping a food diary. Once identified, triggers should be avoided,” says Jay.

“Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), in many foods, especially soups, pizza, chips, and Chinese food, has been shown to cause migraines,” says Ahmed. This also includes sodas, energy drinks, and other caffeinated beverages, especially those that contain artificial sweeteners, says Jay.

6) Avoid certain types of alcohol. “Alcohol that contains congeners are more likely to cause migraines,” says Jay. Congeners are a byproduct in fermented and distilled alcohols, like wine, beer and whiskey. Clear liquor like vodka, on the other hand, may not have the same effects.

7) Get Botox. It’s not just for wrinkles: since the FDA approved its use for migraines in 2010, Botox has become a popular migraine treatment. While this treatment is reserved for people with chronic migraines (defined as 15 days a month or more with migraine symptoms), those who received only two treatments reported a 50% decrease in symptoms. It works by injecting the botulinum toxin into nerve endings that makes its way to the brain and blocks chemicals sending pain signals. Each treatment typically involves 31 injections throughout your head and neck.

Emily Shiffer
Emily Shiffer is a former digital web producer for Men’s Health and Prevention, and is currently a freelancer writer specializing in health, weight loss, and fitness.

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5 Types of Exercise to Beat Headache Pain

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See a Premier Physician Network provider near you.

Good things come to those who exercise, including headache sufferers.

Exercise can release tension in the body and have a positive impact on body chemistry (like boosting oxygen levels), which in turn can decrease the risk of tension headaches and migraines.

Here are some recommendations on the kinds of exercise and body work that can bring relief or make headaches less likely to occur:

Yoga

Tightness in your muscles, poor posture and stress can make headaches worse, according to the American Headache Society (AHS).

Yoga can help by improving flexibility and posture, and relaxing tight muscles. Research indicates that yoga also helps balance the mind, body and spirit, which can have a positive effect on mood, anxiety and stress.

There are many different forms of yoga. Most combine breathing techniques with body movement and holding postures. Restorative yoga, in particular, is a relaxing form that combines deep breathing with poses that are fully supported by props (blankets, mats, blocks, etc.) Restorative yoga may be especially useful for headache sufferers. On the other hand, if you are new to yoga, you may prefer the forms of yoga that move from one posture to the next without holding or straining for long periods of time.

Yoga classes are widely available at recreation centers and specialty yoga centers, on DVDs and online. Before embarking on a program:

• Speak with your doctor first
• Start with a beginner’s class
• Find an instructor who knows how to modify poses to meet your medical needs
• Let your instructor know about your condition
• Let your instructor know if you experience an increase in pain with certain poses
• Note that inversions (poses in which your head is lower than your heart) may be difficult for individuals with headache

Stretching, Deep Breathing and Muscle Relaxation

If yoga isn’t your thing, then simply stretching, deep breathing and/or practicing progressive muscle relaxation can help headache sufferers by improving circulation and reducing muscle tension, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

• Stretching: Stretch 10 minutes a day, paying particular attention to your arms, legs and neck. Not only does this ease tension, it also promotes greater mind/body awareness, because completing each stretch requires mindfulness of your bodily positions, breathing and tension control.
• Deep breathing: Many of us have never learned the correct way to use our diaphragm for deep breathing. Also, we often don’t notice what happens to our breath when we are stressed — we either hold it, or take quick, shallow breaths. But it’s during times of stress that our muscles need oxygen the most.

  Put one hand on your abdomen and the other hand on your upper chest. If you are taking a proper deep breath from the diaphragm — the thin muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities — the hand on your abdomen should move out while inhaling. While exhaling, the hand on your chest should remain relatively still. Once you’re comfortable with the breath cycle, commit to taking several minutes per day to simply concentrate on your breathing.

• Progressive muscle relaxation: In this technique, you tense and then release key muscle groups. Since muscle tension accompanies anxiety, learning to relax the muscles may reduce the emotional and/or physical stress that sometimes leads to headaches.

  Sit or lie in a comfortable position. With your eyes closed, tense the muscles in your legs for 10 seconds, then release the tension for 20 seconds, noticing the difference between the feelings of the tension and relaxation. Try this with other muscle groups, particularly those in the abdomen, chest, arms and face. Find time to practice once a day for 10 minutes. The technique becomes more effective with practice, so stay committed!

Cardiovascular Exercise

Cardiovascular or aerobic exercise (exercise that gives your heart and lungs a workout) reduces stress, anxiety, depression and anger — all of which are headache triggers, according to the ACSM. It also helps you sleep at night (lack of sleep is another trigger) and causes your body to release endorphins, which are natural painkillers.

Tightness in your muscles, poor posture and stress can make headaches worse.

The type of exercise you choose, and how aggressively you pursue it, depends on a number of factors, including your current state of fitness. ACSM recommends 150 minutes per week of moderately intense activity for most people, but you should talk with your doctor about what level is most appropriate for you.

What if Exercise Triggers My Headaches?

Instead of avoiding exercise, the American Headache Society recommends developing a preventive exercise plan if exercise seems to make your headaches worse. This plan includes:

• Staying hydrated before, during and after exercise. Lack of fluids in your body may trigger a migraine. Signs of dehydration include a dry mouth, and not sweating when you are exercising at a moderate to vigorous pace.
• Eating sufficient food about 90 minutes before exercising. You need to provide your body with a source of energy, because exercise zaps your blood sugar levels, which in turn can trigger headaches. Foods with protein, such as a protein bar or nuts, are good snacks prior to exercise.
• Warming up. Don’t jump in and start working out vigorously. Walk slowly for at least five minutes before walking quickly or jogging, and stretch and/or gently lift light weights before intense resistance training.

NOTE: In rare instances, a headache during exercise can be a sign of a more serious problem. Call 911, and go to the nearest emergency department if you get a headache during exercise and one of the following apply:

• You have never had a headache during exercise before.
• You had an exercise headache before, but this one is different in the way it feels, in the location of the pain, or in other ways.
• You injure your head during exercise, which results in a headache.

Whether you choose to run, swim, jog, practice yoga or undertake any number of other activities, make a plan for yourself that includes activities that you enjoy and are convenient. This makes it more likely that you’ll stick to it!

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See a Premier Physician Network provider near you.

Source: American Headache Society; American College of Sports Medicine

11 Unexpected Ways You Can Relieve Headaches

Headaches are a pain that many of us have to deal with on a daily basis. While some pass by quickly, others can linger, causing people to miss out on social engagements, lag behind at work or just feel downright awful.

A headache is one of the most common complaints that a patient brings into a doctor’s office, according to William Chow, a neurologist based in Los Angeles. We know the obvious remedies ― such as popping an Advil or extra-strength Tylenol ― but what if you don’t want to rely on your medicine cabinet all the time?

HuffPost chatted with experts on some surprising causes of headaches as well as some lesser-known ways to relieve them. Take a look below:

1. Address your nightly teeth grinding

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One of the most under-discussed causes of headaches is jaw tension and tooth grinding, said Boryana Nikolova, a dentist based in London. According to Nikolova, “70% of adults grind their teeth,” which usually occurs at night when people don’t realize they’re doing it.

“Tooth grinding places tension on the tiny muscles that control your jaw and these muscles are around the side of your head and around your temples,” Nikolova said, adding that this could lead to headaches, especially in the first few hours after you wake up.

This condition, known in the medial world as bruxism, can be helped by practicing relaxation techniques before bed, as stress may lead to nighttime grinding. If the condition is severe, Nikolova suggested making an appointment with your dentist who can provide you with a specially made mouthguard.

“The appliance acts as a shock absorber for any residual grinding so it does not damage your teeth or wear out the muscles around your head. It is this wear that contributes to morning headaches,” she said.

2. Chug some h3O

Not staying hydrated? A telltale sign may be some pounding in your head. Studies show that drinking more water can help with headaches and migraines.

If you’re feeling head tension coming on and you haven’t refilled your glass in a while, you might want to make that a priority. Experts recommend adult women consume 91 ounces of water from beverages and food, and men should aim for 125 ounces. If you find yourself working out and sweating, you might want to toss in an extra glass or two.

And watch the caffeine, as it’s a diuretic. “For every cup of coffee you drink, you need to drink a few cups of water or you’re dehydrating your body, which causes more headaches in America than people can imagine,” said Sharmila Michael, a pharmacist in Mobile, Alabama.

3. Try a massage

Feeling a little tense these days? That might be contributing to your aching head. “There are limited clinical trials that have shown convincing evidence that massages treat headaches,” said Ayo Moses, a family medicine provider with CareMount Medical in New York.

He noted that in the event a headache is caused by muscle tension, “massage seems to help.”

“The mechanism behind the use of massages in tension headaches is that it increases blood flow to the affected areas, mostly to the neck, back of the head, and shoulders,” Moses said.

4. Take a stretch break

JGI/Tom Grill via Getty Images

The same logic for massages also applies to activities like yoga, physical therapy and Pilates, which Chow said can “reduce the muscle tension component of headaches.” Taking an afternoon stretch break could go a long way in relieving a headache as well, said Julia Jones, a neurologist at Houston Methodist hospital.

“If you sit at a desk for work, make sure to sit with good neck and back posture, and take frequent breaks to move around and stretch,” she said, adding that a proper ergonomic setup at your workstation is a good idea as far as helping with neck pain. And significant neck pain with muscle spasms may definitely trigger headaches.

“Some of my patients like to use a standing desk as it does help with your posture. Headsets [for phones] also can be very beneficial in decreasing significant neck spasm,” she said.

5. Engage in a stress-reducing activity

“Stress management techniques are an excellent way to help prevent and relieve headaches,” Jones said. Try journaling, watching a funny movie on Netflix or engaging in some deep breathing exercises.

Stephen Silberstein, the director of the Headache Center at Jefferson University Hospital, is personally a fan of yoga for this technique. Silberstein said the practice can reduce the intensity and frequency of headaches and migraines as it “combines physical poses that strengthen and stretch muscles with deep breathing, meditation and relaxation.”

6. Consider a shot of Botox

Suffer severe migraine attacks? This specific relief method is currently only approved for chronic migraines, “meaning headaches at least half the days of the month, at least half of which are clearly migraine,” said Christopher H. Gottschalk, the chief of general neurology at Yale Medicine and an assistant professor of neurology at the Yale School of Medicine.

Gottschalk added that having Botox injected “all around the head and upper shoulders every three months has helped thousands of patients to an extraordinary degree.”

7. Get active

When your head hurts, it may be tempting to curl up ― but experts note that getting active can pay off. Regular exercise ― i.e., 20 to 30 minutes of low-impact cardio three to four times a week ― can help to reduce headaches, according to Chow. This, he explained is because staying fit gets the blood flowing and “improves your overall cardiovascular function and cognitive function.” His headache-combating suggestions include jogging, biking or swimming.

8. Log a good night’s sleep

Chow said sleep deprivation is a known trigger for headaches. But don’t overdo it: He warned that logging too many z’s ― i.e., oversleeping, especially while trying to catch up on sleep during the weekends ― can have the opposite effect and actually cause headaches. Seven to eight hours of sleep every night could reduce headache frequencies, Chow added.

9. Give your eyes a break

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Ming Wang, an ophthalmologist in Nashville, Tennessee, said many headaches can often be vision related. According to Wang, it’s common to feel headaches after overdoing it with reading, watching television or even focusing while driving long distances.

“These headaches will be more likely to occur at the end of the day and during the work or school week and less likely in the morning or on weekends,” Wang said.

To ease a headache likely caused by eye strain, try taking frequent computer breaks. If you are reading, stop every so often and focus on something in the room to give your eyes a reprieve. If that doesn’t work, you may need your eyes checked.

“An eye doctor should be a first step for anyone with headaches that seem related to their visual system,” Wang said. “A correct prescription is often able to alleviate the headaches, whether this is an update to a current prescription or a first-time prescription.”

10. Consider trying acupuncture

One study found that acupuncture might help people with frequent tension headaches to alleviate their pain. In a session, an acupuncturist will insert needles into specific pressure points along the body, such as along a person’s neck or back. The American Migraine Foundation said that “there is evidence that acupuncture reduces the frequency of headache in individuals with migraine, and that the effect may be similar to that observed with preventative medications.”

According to Diana Lane, an acupuncturist based in Austin, Texas, “acupuncture provides the ability to soften and alleviate various types of headaches by strategically redirecting blood flow in the body, thus releasing various biochemical signals that teach the body to reduce pain through the stimulation of the peripheral nervous system.”

11. Get more targeted treatment through technology

Caiaimage/Agnieszka Olek via Getty Images

DIY method not working? Ask your doctor about the latest technology designed to help reduce or relieve headaches. There are products ― like electrical nerve simulators ― that may provide some help, according to Charlie Chen, a San Diego-based plastic surgeon who also treats migraine patients through noninvasive and surgical means.

“It’s an electrode that sends signals to the deeper nerves, which may be causing the headaches, to provide relief,” Chen said. He noted that a prescription is likely needed, “but it can be both preventative and stop ongoing migraines and general tension headaches.”

Another option for headache relief is biofeedback, a technique that helps people to control certain functions of their autonomic nervous system. According to the National Headache Foundation, with biofeedback, “individuals learn to control these functions by observing monitoring devices and reproducing desired behavior.” This has been touted as giving some patients a means of managing symptoms like headaches.

And finally, a nerve-blocking procedure can be helpful for combating severe headaches like acute migraines. According to Jones, a physician will use a combination of a steroid and lidocaine to help block the pain.

“The occipital nerve is the most common nerve blocked for headache relief,” she said, noting that the treatment may have to be repeated every three to six months. This method is widely accepted as a standard of care by headache experts, Jones said, but some insurance companies consider this experimental and will not pay for it.

“Living With” is a guide to navigating conditions that affect your mind and body. Each month, HuffPost Life will tackle very real issues people live with by offering different stories, advice and ways to connect with others who understand what it’s like. In April, we’re covering migraines and headaches. Got an experience you’d like to share? Email [email protected].

90,000 What to do if your head hurts constantly?

We all have headaches, though not so often. But what if the head hurts constantly, and not three times a month? The reason can be both in the way of life and in the deterioration of health.

How lifestyle affects headache

If you suffer from a regular headache, pay attention to your habits. Discomfort can come from fatigue, hunger, lack of sleep, overexertion, or stress.To relieve pain, try changing your routine for at least a couple of weeks:

• Go to bed early – a person needs at least 8 hours of sleep to rest. But don’t sleep for more than 10 hours. In this case, the oxygen and blood sugar levels will drop and cause a headache.
• If you sit for a long time at books, a computer, or your work is connected with looking at small details, get distracted every half hour. Get up, stretch, do not strain your eyes for at least a couple of minutes.
• Stop drinking alcohol. It affects blood pressure and affects the state of blood vessels in the head.

Try to avoid stressful situations and negative emotions. If your headache isn’t caused by illness, then these simple tips can help you avoid it.

To relieve pain, you can take an analgesic (the doctor will help you choose which medicine is right for you), have a snack, lie down to sleep for half an hour, ventilate the room and do a head massage.

When to go to a neurologist

There are very few diseases that affect nerve tissues and the brain. May cause headache:

• Neuralgia of the facial and trigeminal nerves – with it, the nerve fibers are pinched and inflamed, due to which you can constantly feel pain;
• Neoplasms. Both benign and malignant tumors press on the vessels, increase intracranial pressure. The head hurts only on the side where the tumor is located.The disease can be suspected by a general deterioration of the condition, fever, lethargy and fatigue.

If the causes of the headache are not clear, the neurologist will refer you to an MRI or CT scan of the brain – they will quickly determine the cause of the discomfort. And if everything is in order with the brain itself, a competent neurologist will be able to find the source of the pain and send it to the doctor of the required specialty.

Heart and spine as a cause of pain

Often the head hurts due to problems with the heart and blood vessels.Usually older people are prone to this, but some diseases are common among young people:

• High and low blood pressure. The head hurts when the weather changes, with a sharp rise, dizziness may begin and darken in the eyes. This is due to vascular tension and oxygen starvation of the brain.
• Vascular diseases. With them, the pain lasts for several hours in the eye area, and blood may flow from the nose.
• Sclerosis and pinched vessels are inevitable companions of atherosclerosis and scoliosis.Due to the reduced lumen of the vessels, less oxygen enters the brain, the head begins to ache either over the entire area, or in the back of the head and temples.
• Stroke – thrombosis or rupture of the vessels of the brain. Severe dull pain appears, a person may lose mobility on one side of the face or body, and stop distinguishing familiar objects. At the first symptoms of a stroke, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance – after a few hours, the brain will begin to die.

To detect pressure problems, you just need to monitor your condition.It is no coincidence that at every appointment with a therapist, you must have your blood pressure measured. Do not be alarmed if it changes on some day: this is completely normal. But vascular disease can only be seen on MRI of the brain or magnetic resonance angiography. You will be referred for these examinations in order to accurately establish a diagnosis if it did not work out right away.

If you have back problems, the headache is most likely due to them. Any curvature of posture, an increase in bone tissue on the vertebrae, hernias and protrusions lead to pinching of blood vessels.And because of this, oxygen and nutrients cannot enter the brain, which causes pain, fatigue and drowsiness. Much less often, the pain from the spine radiates to the head. This happens with injuries, hernias and curvatures of the cervical and upper thoracic regions.

A neurologist and an orthopedic surgeon deal with problems of the spine. The doctor will pay attention to the curvature of the back, first of all, even on a simple visual examination. To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe an X-ray, MRI or CT scan of the damaged spine.

Headache after injuries and illnesses

Pain can be caused by two types of injuries: damage to the skull and spine. The reason for their discomfort is different:

• With traumatic brain injury, a hematoma is formed, which increases intracranial pressure. It squeezes blood vessels and proximal parts of the brain. If the skull is damaged, debris can get inside and cause bleeding. In this case, the pain occurs some time after the injury. The eyes will darken, dizziness and nausea will begin.There is pain all over the head, but at the site of the injury it is especially strong.
• In case of spinal injuries, large vessels are clamped, which causes oxygen starvation. If the neck is injured, then the head will ache simply from the proximity of the injury.

In both cases, you must immediately consult a doctor. To clarify the nature and extent of the injury, the doctor can do an X-ray or MRI, but only after the acute phase has passed.

Diseases can affect headache both directly and indirectly:

• Severe infections can lead to inflammation of the brain structures, thinning of the vessel walls and destruction of the meninges.
• With flu, colds, sore throats and any other respiratory illness, breathing is impaired. And because of the smaller amount of incoming air, oxygen starvation and headache begin.

In these conditions, there is no point in going to a neurologist complaining of a headache. It is better to tell your doctor about it so that he can analyze the situation, adjust the treatment or refer you to hospitalization.

Are there any other reasons due to which the head hurts constantly?

Possible and even very likely! May cause headache:

• Medicines .For many drugs, pain is listed as a side effect.
• Hormonal failure . It can be both physiological (pregnancy, adolescence, menopause) and pathological (disruption of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, ovaries). Hormones control our entire body, and when their concentration changes, the state of health will inevitably deteriorate.
• Mental diseases and pathological conditions . With neuroses, panic attacks and depression, headaches are not uncommon.Physiologically, they are also caused by hormones and oxygen deprivation, however, to get rid of the pain, you have to cope with mental ailments.
• Constant exposure to allergens can provoke headaches due to nasal congestion (and hence lack of oxygen) and pressure changes.
• Constant exposure to toxic substances causes respiratory distress and irritates mucous membranes.

There may be much more rare diseases, for example, multiple sclerosis or parasite infestation, which lead to the destruction of brain tissue.

At the first visit, the doctor will ask you about everything that may be related to the cause of the pain. Probably will refer you to another specialist: endocrinologist, psychotherapist, allergist. In the case of an incorrectly selected medicine, the doctor will be able to prescribe an analogue without side effects. For diagnostics, you may need:

• MRI or CT of the brain,
• MRI of the cervical spine,
• blood test for hormones,
• general and biochemical blood test,
• tests for allergens.

There are many causes of headaches and can be difficult to identify quickly. However, the diagnostic methods are very similar, and you do not have to spend a lot of time on examinations. And, even if the fifth doctor can cure you, and not the second, getting rid of a constant headache is worth all the time spent on it.

How to get rid of a headache with massage – massage.co.ua

Headache and toothache are the most unbearable. They cause terrible discomfort and do not give you the opportunity to work or rest.Nothing brings pleasure and you don’t want to do anything at all. If you do not want to take a pill every time you have a headache, we will tell you about the most effective non-drug ways to eliminate headaches. Do you want to know how to get rid of a headache without pills? The simplest thing is to learn how to massage acupressure points or entrust it to a professional massage therapist of the Mikhail Guz Studio. Very important! Below we will show the main points for self-massage. Such massage can be done as a prophylactic one, it is not a lot of time to spend on it, but the general condition will improve significantly.You will feel the effect of the massage in 5-10 minutes, and the massage of the points itself takes about 1 minute. Massage each point for 15 seconds or more.

6 effective points for getting rid of headaches

Yin Tang . The so-called “third eye”. The point is located between the eyebrows, and its study allows you to relieve not only headaches, but also eye fatigue.

Tsuan-Zhu . And here is not one, but two points at once. These points are located at the beginning of each eyebrow (inner side).You need to massage gently, in a circular motion and with light pressure. As a rule, 1 minute is enough for the massage to have its effective effect.

“Ju-liao” . The points are also symmetrical. Find the indentation under the cheekbones on the sides of the sinuses. Working out these points is not only an effective fight against headaches, as well as toothaches, but also an excellent way to relieve the state of general fatigue.

“Tien-Zhu” . The location of these points is the middle between the beginning of the spine and the ear. Massage of these points allows you to fight a runny nose, eliminates nasal congestion, eye pain, ear and headache, migraine.

Toy-Wei . In the temple area, 2-3 cm from the beginning of the hairline, these points are located symmetrically. By the way, in place of these points, dimples are probed, so this will be your guide that you have found the right points and you can start massage.If you do not know how to get rid of a headache with massage, the study of points “Toy-Wei” will be an effective way to fight without the use of pills.

“He-Gu” . The last point is not located in the head area. There are miraculous points between the thumb and forefinger on the outside of the hand. They allow you to remove back pain, toothache and headache. If you suffer from pain or muscle strain, these points are also ideal for improving your overall well-being.

If you have a headache, now you know how to get rid of it at home or in the office without using medication. It is best, of course, to entrust the massage to a specialist so that it hits the right points 100% and gets the desired effect. A professional massage therapist will carefully and effectively work out all points, and you will be able to fully relax during the massage and, as a result, get rid of the annoying headache. Before the massage, be sure to consult with a specialist and tell him about the problems that bother you.Correctly selected massage is the key to excellent results and your health. Book a massage in the studio of Mikhail Guz and you will surely feel the relief of the whole body and get rid of headaches.

Company

Unfortunately, the disease itself provides many reasons for this. For example, the reason is direct – it is the intoxication of the body as a result of a “viral attack”, “foreign substances” in the body never “please” the nervous system.Or the reason is somewhat indirect: when a person has a cold, a person often sniffs, resulting in a brain oversaturation with oxygen (“hyperaerobic breathing”), and this excess O ₂ immediately “gives off to the head”. In general, there are enough reasons.

The conclusion from this is simple: to get rid of a “cold” headache, first of all, it is necessary to eliminate its “original” cause. This means that an antiviral agent should be involved in the case. For example, Ergoferon.Of course, complete victory over viruses is not an instant matter. So for its fastest achievement, it is quite possible to add “symptomatic” measures:

– first of all – the peace of the home regime. Ideally, bed;

– full sleep. It is desirable – also in the daytime “quiet hour”. After all, if not now, then when?

– regular airing of the room. There are fewer viruses – more oxygen;

– exclusion of “unnecessary” physical activity;

– however, and mental too: do not “stuff” your head with a TV and a computer, after all, you are being treated, getting in shape, and not having fun!

– as always with a cold – drink plenty of fluids: a headache can be a “signal” of dehydration;

– as with any ailment – healthy, properly “fortified” food;

– head massage and cold compresses – here, again, your “personal benefit” can be determined and “groped” only by experience;

Brief summary: anything that helps the body in its fight against infection will also contribute to getting rid of pain in our main thinking organ.After all, he was given to a person for this, so that with his help he could think, look around him and enjoy life, and not suffer!

The modern drug Ergoferon is aimed at combating various types of respiratory viruses. At the same time, it helps to reduce the main manifestations of colds and flu, and to activate the body’s own “internal reserves”. The drug can be used for both adults and young patients from the age of six months.

Headache: why, reasons, what to do if headache hurts, remedies for headache – April 9, 2021

Why headache

Headache occurs for many reasons. Sometimes as a result of vascular spasm, muscle clamping, a sign of fatigue, or a complication associated with another disease.

For some diseases, headache becomes a symptom that allows for a serious diagnosis at an early stage. Therefore, it is important to monitor the frequency, localization and severity of the ailment so that, if necessary, the doctor can determine the cause and nature of the headache.

Headache can occur from an uncomfortable pillow, spasmodic neck muscles, stress, poor posture, after a hard day at work, or immediately after waking up, or at the end of a busy day. If you sit at the computer for a long time, you probably do not notice the tense posture, which leads to squeezing of blood vessels and impaired blood circulation. The brain does not receive oxygen in the required amount for full functioning, which affects impaired activity and pain.

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Types of headaches

• Migraine: frequent and throbbing pain, arises from stress, alcohol abuse, overwork, sometimes manifests itself as a chronic disease;
• Cluster: very strong shooting pain, appears often, one might say, constantly. It occurs as a sharp attack that lasts from 20 minutes to an hour and a half, is felt in the forehead and eyes, accompanied by tears, swelling. A thundering peak of pain can build up over a few seconds;
• Tension headache is the most common form, which is considered to be a common headache.Aching sensations arise against the background of emotional stress, long sedentary work or driving a car, an uncomfortable posture during sleep. The pain is not localized anywhere, “spreads” over the entire head.

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Headache and nausea

Frequent headaches can be accompanied by bouts of nausea: if persistent, see a doctor immediately. This may occur against the background of:

• influenza;
• hypertension;
• problems with vessels;
• osteochondrosis
• inflammatory processes;
• intoxication;
• pregnancy;
• injury and pain shock.

What to do if you have a headache

Try contrast washing (wash your face for a few seconds in turn with warm, hot, cool water). Do an acupressure, take a sedative, and lie down with your eyes closed for 20-30 minutes. As a preventive measure, physical exercises are recommended to stretch the muscles of the back and neck: yoga, Pilates, stretching.

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Self-massage for headaches

Before taking pills, you can use the acupressure technique.

• Find the point behind the ear, not far from the lobe: feel for it in the depression of the lower edge of the occipital bone. Clasp your forehead with your palms, and rub the point with your thumbs for about 3-5 minutes counterclockwise;
• Find a point on the eyebrow line in the indentation of the temples. Close your eyes. Massage for about 3-5 minutes, gently stroking counterclockwise;
• Massage the neck between the third and fourth vertebrae for five minutes;
• While sitting, tilt your head back a little and rub your forehead from the middle to the sides with your fingertips.After – massage the head, performing circular movements from the temples to the back of the head. Hair should be loose and without elastic bands, hairpins. Additionally massage your nose from top to bottom.

Headache: in the back of the head, forehead, eyes

• If the pain “gives off” in the back of the head, it can be the cause of cervical osteochondrosis, spondylosis or increased muscle tone of the cervical spine, hypertension.
• Headache in the forehead indicates inflammation: frontal sinusitis, increased intracranial pressure, pinching of the occipital nerve.
• Discomfort in the eye area can be a symptom of autonomic dysfunction, migraine, glaucoma and other diseases.

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Medicines for headache

• pain in the head, neck, fever: Ibuprofen, Nurofen, Burana, Mig, Faspik;
• rare, mild headache: Panadol, Citramon, Tempalgin;
• for inflammation: acetylsalicylic acid;
• accompanied by heat: Analgin, Baralgin;
• pain relievers when other drugs do not help: Next, Brustan or Ibuklin.

There are contraindications for pregnant women: girls in a position can take medications only after consulting a doctor.

Drivers are not advised to take drugs that contain phenobarbital and codeine. The presence of substances in the blood is regarded as a state of narcotic intoxication; it takes 72 hours for elimination from the body.

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When to see a doctor

• headache intensifies in minutes, resembles a “thundering”;
• appeared after heavy training or head injury;
• increases with a change in body position, coughing, laughter, physical exertion;
• severe pain appeared for the first time or is accompanied by other unpleasant conditions: weakness in the body, numbness, dizziness, fainting;
• fever appears;
• You are uncomfortable and do not want to endure a headache.

Which doctor treats headache

A neuropathologist diagnoses and prescribes a treatment regimen: drug treatment, MRI, massage, tomography, acupuncture, physiotherapy, exercise therapy. If you experience pressure in the maxillary sinuses, nose or ears, make an appointment with an otorhinolaryngologist.

This article is advisory in nature and is not a guide to action. If you experience a headache, consult a doctor who will diagnose and determine a treatment plan for a specific clinical situation.

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Headaches –

Migraine

About 20% of all headaches are caused by migraines. In 75% of cases, migraine manifests itself as a sudden, intense, one-sided, paroxysmal headache of a pulsating and periodically repetitive nature that can last about several hours, which is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and the intensity of which increases with head movement.Migraine is dominantly inherited. Moreover, it is 3 times more common in women than in men. In addition, it mainly begins to manifest itself in young and middle age, and shows a decrease in old age.

As a rule, caused by migraine, headache lasts from 4 to 72 hours, and its intensity increases with exercise. Migraine sufferers often present with disorders such as depression, anxiety, and panic disorder.In patients who are sensitive to migraines, various factors can cause headaches. The most common factors include certain foods and additional ingredients (wine, chocolate, caffeine, cheese), fasting or skipping meals, excessive or insufficient sleep, strong odors, changes in atmospheric pressure, intense light changes (bright blinking), psychological disorders, hormonal changes, menstrual bleeding, drugs and exercise.In about 15% of cases, migraine headache is accompanied by one of the most painful phases, called aura, which is a harbinger of migraine, followed by neurological symptoms lasting no more than 1 hour. Most often, during the aura, visual disturbances such as the appearance of blind spots, flashes of light or zigzags can be observed, tingling or numbness in the fingertips is less common, there are speech difficulties or difficulty in finding words, hallucinations and other disturbances of visual functions.Paresthesias are the second most common type of aura. With such manifestations, numbness occurs, similar to “creeping crawl”, which begins unilaterally from the tips of the fingers and extends to the area of ​​the arm and shoulder, reaching the area of ​​the face, nose and mouth. In addition, although rare, symptoms such as with aura can also be observed: impaired speech, hearing and smell, dizziness and hallucinations. The headache usually begins within 5-30 minutes immediately after the onset of the aura.

Symptoms in classic migraine include loss of vision, weakness, sensory disturbances, and headache that lasts for several minutes. The duration of attacks for classic migraine can be several hours, for general migraine, this duration can take several days. Painful sensations can be accompanied by increased sensitivity and anxiety to light and sound. At the same time, symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea may appear in other parts of the body.

Treatment of migraine, along with taking medications, also includes the elimination of factors that can cause it. Meanwhile, if migraine pain attacks occur more often than 3 times a month, while their intensity is strong enough and causes neurological disorders and certain inconveniences in everyday life, preventive treatment should be added to the existing treatment.

Cluster headache

Arising spontaneously and irregularly, cluster headaches represent a pronounced pain syndrome in the areas of the projection of the brain onto the walls of the cranium.The causes of this type of headache are still unknown. The intensity of the pain is very high and can last for 30 minutes on average. Most often, pain occurs around the eyes, in the temporal region, behind the ears, and around the proximal molars of the mandible. The pain usually comes on at night and causes sleep disturbance. The severity of the pain is so great that it can lead to suicide attempts in order to get rid of the pain. Autonomic symptoms that characterize cluster headache include bleeding of the eyeballs, watery eyes, nasal congestion, runny nose, sweating of the forehead and face, drooping eyelids, decreased pupils, and swelling of the eyelids.Unlike patients with migraines, patients with cluster pain, rather than being in a dark room, prefer to stay in lighted rooms, go out into the fresh air and take walks. The duration of periods of cluster headache can vary in each patient in different ways. Most often they last for 2-3 months. A completely painless, calm period lasts from 6 months to 1 year. Painful periods occur almost every day, sometimes there may be several bouts of pain per day.In 4% of cases, pain can be bilateral. This pain is most often observed in men, while heredity does not matter.

There is a large selection of different drugs that are used in the treatment of cluster headache. Meanwhile, in the event that drug treatment is ineffective, it will be possible to turn to surgical methods of treatment.

90,000 ▷ Eurolab Medical Center

Headache is an unpleasant pain sensation that occurs from the back of the head to the eyebrow line.Many, having felt a headache, simply take pain relievers without thinking about what exactly triggered it. Headache can be caused by many reasons – from a cold, tension, stress, or any other reason. Sometimes the headache occurs so often that it becomes unsafe to use medication, or it takes you by surprise when there is no drug store nearby. There may be an allergy to painkillers or a ban on taking them for health reasons. Meanwhile, it is necessary to pay attention to the circumstances preceding the onset of pain.By avoiding them, you will save yourself a headache!

Causes of headaches

Bad habits that cause headaches, namely:

• Food habits – some foods: cheese, chocolate, Coca-Cola or too fatty foods containing a lot of cholesterol can provoke a headache.
• Fasting is absolutely contraindicated for frequent, severe headaches. The brain lacks nutrients.
• Excessive fluid – Drinking plenty of fluid for weight loss or rejuvenation is not necessary.What matters is not the amount of fluid you drink, but its distribution in the cells and in the intercellular space – the concentration gradient (ratio). If the ratio is violated, edema occurs, which is aggravated by a large intake of fluid. In persons with cerebrospinal fluid disorders and a tendency to increase intracranial pressure, this provokes a headache.
• Vitamins and microelements – in overestimated doses. An overdose of vitamins of group D is especially dangerous. Vitamin D3 – cholecalciferol – which contains a molecule of cholesterol, in case of an overdose, causes liming of blood vessels and soft tissues, the formation of kidney stones.
• Drugs – even drugs for headaches can cause headaches – this is a paradoxical reaction of the body. They should be taken only as directed by a doctor, strictly maintain the dose, and analyze the body’s response.

External factors

• Stress is a powerful trigger factor. The response to stress is individual and depends on the type of nervous system. Asthenics usually have a headache. The negative impact of stress does not appear immediately, but after a while.Prolonged stress provokes persistent headaches. Chatting with someone you don’t like or being alone are both stressors.
• Alcohol – if you have a headache after drinking alcohol, then it is contraindicated for you. From alcoholic beverages, it is better to choose cognac or well-purified vodka – naturally, in small quantities. Dry and fortified wines, liqueurs, champagne are undesirable.
• Smoking – quit smoking completely. Nicotine and the tar of cigarettes constrict blood vessels, the walls of the vessels become brittle, their tone is even more disturbed.Secondhand smoke is also harmful.
• A sedentary lifestyle – the risk of pressing, congestive headache.
• High or low pillow during sleep – This also matters for headaches. Hypertensive patients almost always choose a high pillow, and hypotonic patients – a low one.
• Heat, cold – heat is especially dangerous for hypertensive patients. It is advisable to wear a beautiful straw hat; it is better not to go outside in extreme heat at all, and even more so – not to work physically, not to bend over.Cold is also harmful: the blood vessels in the brain are narrowed, blood circulation is impaired, which leads to a headache. There is a great risk of catching a cold on the trigeminal nerve and getting neuralgia. In the cold season, it is necessary to wear a warm headdress.
• Smells – even the most expensive perfumes often provoke headaches. The reaction to odors is very individual: someone does not tolerate the pungent smell of perfume, someone does not tolerate gasoline vapors or the smell of sweat. If you tend to react strongly to odors, you should simply avoid them at least in high concentration.
• Unsuccessful accessories – such small things as a hair clip, headband or glasses, if they are uncomfortable and press on reflex points, can be a trigger factor. Sleeping in curlers guarantees a headache in the morning.

Health problems

• Overwork and lack of sleep – manifested by a headache, remind workaholics that it is time to rest and relax.
• Premenstrual syndrome is a powerful factor in headache (migraine) in women.PMS headache worsens in the premenopausal period and can completely disappear after the end of menstruation. Treatment is symptomatic, according to the doctor’s prescription it can be hormonal.
• Lack of sexual activity or orgasm – for persons with highly developed sexuality, this is a real problem (the fact of the participation of sex hormones in the mechanism of headache). Both men and women can suffer.
• Uncomfortable posture during work – a working posture during sedentary work contributes to the development of osteochondrosis of the spine, the innervation of blood vessels is disturbed, and headaches occur.Massage and exercise will help.
• When working at a computer, the screen gives a point flicker invisible to the eye, but perceived by the brain, which irritates and tires it. Move away from the monitor – Take a break of 10 minutes every hour, and it is necessary to completely stand and move away from the monitor, look into the distance and stretch.
• Inexperienced manual therapy – Treatment by a poor specialist can lead to instability of the cervical vertebrae, pinched arteries and impaired blood supply to the brain.Therefore, choose qualified professionals.

What then to do, how to quickly relieve a headache without resorting to medications. We offer you 5 of the most famous ways to relieve headaches. Of course, these recipes are not 100% remedies for pain, but they often bring significant relief and do not harm health.

Simple Ways to Get Rid of Headaches

Aromatherapy

• Lavender scent – relaxes, relieves stress and calms, helps to sleep.
• Peppermint or mint tea with honey – relieves stress and soothes the nerves.
• Valerian root tincture – helps with stressful headaches.

Put a bottle of peppermint oil, lavender oil or “golden star” balm in your purse and, at the first sign of pain, breathe in aromas for about a minute with each nasal passage or lubricate the temples and the point between the eyebrows.

Cold or warm compress

In case of overexertion, allergies, cramps or colds, cold helps – wrap ice with a towel or soak a linen napkin in cold water, apply to the forehead and temples, to the neck and shoulders.You can also use a tight bandage around your head. With a spasm of the neck muscles, it is necessary to expand the vessels by applying a heating pad with hot water to the neck area, a mustard plaster on the back of the head, or take a hot shower on the neck area. A contrast shower itself is excellent for relieving headache attacks.

Fresh air

In case of banal hypoxia in rooms during the heating season, when heaters burn out oxygen, ventilation every hour for five minutes or a walk for half an hour helps. If you don’t feel like walking, go out onto the balcony, breathe deeply and slowly for 10 minutes.Quit Smoking: Nicotine and cigarette smoke contribute to hypoxia and headaches.

Healthy sleep

Just lie down and close your eyes, try to fall asleep, or at least take a couple of hours nap. Open a window (window) during sleep or simply pre-ventilate the room, and keep the bedroom humid and cool.

Point and general massages

• Massage the area where the thumb and forefinger meet vigorously for 5 minutes.
• Massage the point above the bridge of the nose, on the line of growth of the eyebrows.
• Massage at the same time small dimples where the eyebrows end.
• Massage the points where the hair grows in the light corner, also at the same time with your index fingers.
• Rubbing or massaging the earlobes until warmth is felt, or a sharp squeeze of the earlobes.
• Massage the collar zone, neck and head, especially in its scalp – rub them until warm, and it is also useful to run your fingers into your hair and massage the hair roots with the pads until relieved.

And these are not all recipes for getting rid of pain.

If the pains are persistent, persistent, strong, interfere with life and work, have become your constant companions, you need to see a doctor, undergo an examination, and, possibly, take courses of treatment twice a year: on the first grass and on the first snow. Unfortunately, treatment for headaches is mostly symptomatic and does not address the underlying cause. But you can’t do without a doctor!

90,000 15 + 1 easy ways to quickly relieve headaches

What can you do if you suddenly have a severe headache? The simplest solution is to take some pain reliever and not suffer.But situations are different, and sometimes there is simply no life-saving pill at hand – for example, when resting in a country house or in a village, where you can walk 10-15 kilometers to the nearest pharmacy. There are also those who generally do not take pharmacological drugs unless absolutely necessary.

In these and other situations, proven folk recipes can become a real salvation from suffering. The most effective home remedies for headaches will be discussed further.

when headache is an alarm

Sometimes a headache is a symptom of a disease, and in this case, neither home methods nor pain pills will help. See a doctor for head pain in the following cases:

• ● pain occurs more often 2-3 times a month, and cannot be explained by loose nerves, colds, menstruation (in women) or other understandable factors;
• ● pain is practically not relieved by anything, even with the most powerful pain relievers;
• ● the occurrence of headaches is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, nausea or impaired coordination of movements.

If your head hurts after experiencing nervous stress, or even for some unknown reason, then there are several simple ways that will quickly bring your health back to normal.

How to quickly defeat a headache

1. 1. Sleep . Most often, this method is the most effective in relieving headaches. 1-2 hours of sleep will allow you to bounce back and stop suffering.
2. 2. Relaxation . This implies true purposeful relaxation with consistent relaxation of all the muscles in the body, not just sitting with your eyes closed. 15-20 minutes of complete muscle relaxation is usually enough for the pain to subside.

1. 3. Push-ups . A slightly unusual, but very effective method is to do good push-ups from the floor. In this case, the arms must be placed so that muscle tension falls on the zones where pain is felt.If the cause of the headaches is stagnation of blood in the neck or muscle spasm, then push-ups will easily relieve it. Other strength exercises, such as dumbbells, are fine as well.
2. 4. Eye exercises . 5-10 minutes of doing any eye exercises (usually “drawing” with the eyes of imaginary geometric shapes) can help relieve pain if it is concentrated in the frontal part of the head.
3. 5. Lemon . To relieve head pains, the inner side of the lemon peel should be applied to the temples and forehead.
4. 6. Beet . Fresh circles are also applied to the forehead and temples, but, unlike lemon, beets can leave marks on the skin.
5. 7. Cabbage leaf . An old proven remedy for headaches is to knead a cabbage leaf so that it lets the juice, then apply the leaf to the temples and on the forehead, and lubricate the wrists with the juice on the inside and the area behind the ears.
6. 8. Herbal teas . A cup of hot tea made from chamomile or calendula can help relieve pain caused by mild indigestion.A cup of lemon balm tea will help relieve pain caused by nervous stress.

1. 9. Milk with honey . If headaches are caused by a mild exacerbation of chronic gastritis, then a glass of hot milk with a dissolved teaspoon of honey will almost certainly help.
2. 10. Acetic compress . 1 teaspoon of vinegar in 0.5 liters of cool water, moisten a towel in the resulting solution and apply to the forehead and temples.
3. 11.Cinnamon . Add 1 gram of cinnamon to 100 ml of hot water (not boiling water), cover, let it brew for 30 minutes, then strain and slowly drink in small sips. The remedy will help faster if you drink it on an empty stomach.
4. 12. Strong coffee . This method can help if the pain is due to a situational decrease in blood pressure. Coffee should only be natural, because instant coffee does not have the proper effect.
5. 13.Water . If the pain arose from dehydration, then you just need to restore the water balance in the body. To do this, you should drink a liter of water in small sips for 1 hour. It is impossible to drink large volumes of liquid right away – in this case, 70-80% of the water will be excreted in the urine, and the therapeutic effect cannot be achieved.
6. 14. Self-massage . Depending on the localization of pain, you need to rub the temples in a circular motion or rub the back of your head or forehead with your palm until a sensation of strong heat appears in the massage zone.
7. 15. Towel . Another old but working trick is to bandage your head tightly with a towel and wear for about 1-3 hours.

And one more little piece of advice : supporters of alternative medicine claim that even the most stubborn headaches go away if you lean your forehead against an aspen, which supposedly has the ability to absorb negative energy. It is not known whether this will help, but if there is nothing else at hand, then you can try it – it will definitely not get worse.

What not to do in case of headache

• ● Endure . There will be no benefit from this, and besides, pain always signals disturbances in the functioning of the body, which it is desirable to eliminate as soon as possible.
• ● Drink alcohol . Alcohol in some cases can relieve head pain (for example, with vasospasm), and sometimes it can seriously aggravate the condition (for example, with pain of stomach origin).
• ● Swallow tablets in handfuls of . The interval between taking medications of anesthetic action (citramon, aspirin, nimesil, etc.) should be at least 30 minutes, and even better 1-2 hours. If you start swallowing everything at once, without pausing, then in addition to the head, the stomach will also hurt.
• ● Cold douches . If you pour ice water over your head, the feeling of extreme cold really interrupts the feeling of pain for a while, but in the future, the spasm of blood vessels caused by a cold shock will only lead to further deterioration of the condition.

In general, if we talk about headaches, the best remedy for them is a healthy lifestyle.