What are the most common symptoms of headaches. How can you identify different types of headaches. What are the primary causes of headaches and migraines. Which treatments are most effective for various headache types. How can you prevent headaches naturally.

Understanding Occipital Neuralgia: A Distinct Form of Headache

Occipital neuralgia is a condition characterized by inflammation or injury to the occipital nerves, which run from the spinal cord to the scalp. This condition can often be mistaken for migraines or other types of headaches due to similar symptoms. However, the distinction is crucial as treatments vary significantly.

Key Symptoms of Occipital Neuralgia

• Sharp, jabbing, electric shock-like pain in the back of the head and neck
• Aching, burning, and throbbing pain starting at the base of the head and extending to the scalp
• Unilateral or bilateral head pain
• Pain behind the eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Tenderness of the scalp
• Pain triggered by neck movement

Is occipital neuralgia a life-threatening condition? Fortunately, it is not. Most individuals find relief through rest and medication. However, persistent pain should be reported to a healthcare provider to rule out other underlying issues.

Exploring the Root Causes of Occipital Neuralgia

Occipital neuralgia occurs when the occipital nerves experience pressure or irritation. While the exact cause often remains elusive, several factors and medical conditions have been associated with its onset:

• 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

Can neck tension alone cause occipital neuralgia? While neck tension is a common contributing factor, it’s often a combination of issues that lead to the development of occipital neuralgia. Proper diagnosis is essential to identify the underlying causes and determine the most effective treatment approach.

Diagnostic Approaches for Occipital Neuralgia

Diagnosing occipital neuralgia involves a combination of methods to ensure accurate identification and differentiation from other headache types:

1. Medical history review and discussion of any relevant injuries
2. Physical examination, including palpation of the back of the head to reproduce pain
3. Nerve block injection to assess pain relief
4. Blood tests or MRI scans for atypical cases

Why is proper diagnosis crucial for occipital neuralgia? Accurate diagnosis ensures appropriate treatment selection. Misdiagnosis, such as confusing occipital neuralgia with migraines, can lead to ineffective treatment and prolonged discomfort.

Comprehensive Treatment Options for Occipital Neuralgia

Treatment for occipital neuralgia aims to alleviate pain and address underlying causes. Options range from self-care measures to medical interventions:

Self-Care and Over-the-Counter Remedies

• Applying heat to the neck
• Resting in a quiet environment
• Massaging tight neck muscles
• Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., naproxen, ibuprofen)

Prescription Medications

• Muscle relaxants
• Antiseizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine, gabapentin)
• Antidepressants

Medical Procedures

• Nerve blocks and steroid injections
• Microvascular decompression surgery
• Occipital nerve stimulation

How effective are nerve blocks for occipital neuralgia? Nerve blocks can provide both diagnostic information and short-term relief. Multiple injections over several weeks may be necessary to control pain effectively, and repeat treatments might be required if symptoms recur.

Natural Remedies for Headache Relief: Beyond Medication

While over-the-counter painkillers are commonly used for headache relief, numerous natural methods can be equally effective and may help prevent future headaches:

• Increasing water intake to prevent dehydration-induced headaches
• Applying cold or warm compresses to the affected area
• Taking nutritional supplements (after consulting with a healthcare provider)
• Improving sleep quality and duration
• Practicing stress-reduction techniques like meditation or yoga
• Maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise routine

Can increasing water intake really help prevent headaches? Yes, dehydration is a common trigger for headaches. Maintaining proper hydration can significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches for many individuals.

Identifying Different Types of Headaches: A Crucial Step in Treatment

Understanding the specific type of headache you’re experiencing is essential for effective treatment. Common types include:

• Tension headaches
• Migraines
• Cluster headaches
• Sinus headaches
• Occipital neuralgia

Each type has distinct characteristics, triggers, and optimal treatment approaches. For instance, migraines often involve intense, throbbing pain accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, while tension headaches typically present as a constant, dull ache.

How can you differentiate between a migraine and a tension headache? Migraines are often characterized by severe, pulsating pain, often on one side of the head, and may be accompanied by nausea and visual disturbances. Tension headaches, on the other hand, usually involve a constant, pressure-like pain on both sides of the head without the additional migraine-associated symptoms.

Lifestyle Modifications to Prevent and Manage Headaches

Implementing certain lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of headaches:

• Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule
• Managing stress through relaxation techniques or therapy
• Avoiding known triggers (e.g., certain foods, alcohol, strong odors)
• Practicing good posture to reduce neck and shoulder tension
• Limiting screen time and taking regular breaks during computer work
• Staying physically active with regular exercise
• Keeping a headache diary to identify patterns and triggers

Can regular exercise really help prevent headaches? Yes, regular physical activity can reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches for many individuals. Exercise promotes better circulation, reduces stress, and helps maintain overall health, all of which contribute to headache prevention.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Headaches

While many headaches can be managed at home, certain situations warrant immediate medical attention:

• 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 don’t respond to over-the-counter treatments
• Headaches that interfere with daily activities or quality of life

Why is it important to seek medical attention for severe or unusual headaches? Severe or unusual headaches can sometimes be indicators of serious underlying conditions, such as meningitis, brain tumors, or aneurysms. Prompt medical evaluation can lead to early diagnosis and treatment of potentially life-threatening conditions.

Innovative Treatments on the Horizon for Headache Management

Research in headache management continues to evolve, with promising new treatments emerging:

• CGRP antagonists for migraine prevention and treatment
• Neuromodulation devices for various headache types
• Personalized medicine approaches based on genetic profiles
• Advanced imaging techniques for more precise diagnosis
• Cognitive behavioral therapy specifically tailored for headache management

How might personalized medicine change headache treatment in the future? Personalized medicine approaches could allow healthcare providers to tailor treatments based on an individual’s genetic makeup, potentially leading to more effective and targeted therapies with fewer side effects.

Understanding the diverse nature of headaches, from common tension headaches to more specific conditions like occipital neuralgia, is crucial for effective management and treatment. By combining medical interventions with lifestyle modifications and staying informed about emerging treatments, individuals can take control of their headache experiences and improve their overall quality of life. Remember, persistent or severe headaches should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

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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Over-the-counter painkillers can often relieve a headache, but a wide range of natural methods may also help. Examples include drinking more water, applying compresses, taking nutritional supplements, getting some extra sleep, and many more.

In this article, we look at a range of home and natural remedies for headaches. People can try many of these remedies right away, and some of them might help to prevent headaches in the future.

Drinking enough water may help prevent headaches or reduce their severity.

Dehydration can be an underlying cause of many simple headaches. It may also alter how a person feels, acts, or thinks.

As a study in the journal Antioxidants notes, even slight dehydration may alter how people think and function, making them feel worse, with or without a headache.

Water may help make someone in this situation feel better, although some studies are more cautious.

A critical reading of one study published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice noted that drinking water did not reduce how long people had their headaches, but it did make them subjectively feel better.

Staying hydrated may be as simple as carrying a water bottle around and sipping on it throughout the day. Eating foods high in liquid, such as fruits, smoothies, or soups, may also improve hydration.

A cold compress may be a simple headache solution that many people have on hand. Applying an ice pack or another cold item to the head or neck may help constrict the blood vessels and reduce inflammation in the area. Doing so could temporarily relieve headache pain.

A study in Hawai’i Journal of Medicine & Public Health found that applying ice packs to the neck for 30 minutes significantly reduced pain in people with migraines.

In other cases, such as with a tension headache where the muscles are too tight, a warm compress may help relax these muscles and bring relief.

A warm compress could be as simple as a heated towel. People may be able to get the same effect from a tepid shower or bath.

In some cases, there is a physical reason for a headache. Check for anything that is putting too much pressure on the head. This may be a ponytail or bun that is too tight or a hat or headband that has been on too long.

Some people who get headaches become sensitive to light. Bright office lights or even the bright light from a smartphone may make symptoms worse.

It may help to rest in a dark or dimly lit room while recovering from a headache.

Herbal tea may be a useful way to add water to the diet while also enjoying the benefits of other natural compounds.

For instance, ginger tea may help with a migraine. One 2013 study found that ginger powder had similar effects to a common medication for reducing migraines. A simple tea of warm water and ginger powder may help with symptoms.

Other potentially calming teas include herbs such as peppermint, chamomile, and lavender.

Exercise may help keep the body healthy and promote better circulation, which might reduce the chances of a headache showing up.

One 2018 review of research published in the journal Children noted that too little exercise may actually influence headaches among adolescents. Regular, moderate exercise may help, such as briskly walking or riding a bike for 30 minutes a day.

Sometimes food intolerances may be the underlying cause of symptoms such as a headache.

If a headache seems to show up after meals, it may be helpful for people to keep a food journal of everything they eat each day. This may enable them to identify and avoid any foods that could trigger a headache.

Share on PinterestGetting too little sleep may cause a headache.

Different issues may lead to headaches, and sleep problems are among the more common ones.

Getting too much or too little sleep or not sleeping soundly may influence a headache in some people, as they have not fully rested their body.

As one paper in the journal Sleep notes, adults should try to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.

Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine, where practitioners place small needles into the surface of the skin. The aim is not to cause pain but to stimulate the body’s own energy.

The review published in Children notes that research has shown acupuncture to be an effective way to prevent migraines and tension headaches or reduce their frequency.

Massaging certain pressure points may help relieve tension in the head and reduce a headache. Many people do this instinctively, such as rubbing the back of the neck or pinching the top of the nose when they feel stressed.

There may be some truth to these instincts. Many people find that massaging the temples, jaw, or neck may help relieve tension and reduce a tension headache that comes from being too stressed.

Some other areas to try massaging include the area between the eyebrows and the two spots at the base of the eyebrows on either side of the bridge of the nose. These spots may hold tension from the eyes or head, and massaging them could help relieve this tension.

Massaging the neck near the base of the skull may also help release tension.

Again, the review in Children notes that relaxation training and techniques may help many people with their headache symptoms while also reducing stress and anxiety.

Relaxation techniques include practices such as deep-belly breathing, guided meditations, and actively focusing on relaxing the muscles.

Drinking a beverage with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, or soda, may sometimes help ease a headache.

Some pain medications designed for headaches include caffeine, as the compound may improve their effectiveness.

As a review published in the Journal of Headache and Pain notes, caffeine by itself may help reduce symptoms of a tension headache or migraine. Caffeine tends to relax the blood vessels, which may support circulation and ease tension.

Share on PinterestUsing essential oils may relieve headache symptoms.

Aromatherapy that uses some essential oils may also relieve symptoms of a headache. The 2018 review in Children noted that inhaling lavender essential oil for 15 minutes reduced the severity of headaches, according to one study.

A separate study posted to the journal Pain suggested that peppermint oil is more effective at reducing tension headaches than a placebo.

The smells of essential oils may bother some people, and experimenting with different oils that individuals find relaxing may be a way to ease headache symptoms.

A 2015 review published in the journal Nutrientssuggests that people who regularly experience cluster headaches or migraines may be more likely to have low magnesium levels.

Adding magnesium to the diet, as a supplement, may help reduce headaches or prevent them in these cases.

Some B vitamins may help protect against headaches or reduce them. One 2015 review in Biomed Research International noted that vitamins, including folate and the vitamins B-6 and B-12, may all play a role in preventing migraine headaches or reducing headache symptoms.

The B vitamins are readily available as supplements with several brands that people can buy online.

Vitamin E may also play a role in headache symptoms. A 2015 review of vitamin supplementation noted that vitamin E might relieve headache pain and migraine symptoms from menstrual migraines with a low risk of side effects.

This may be valuable for women who experience migraines during their menstrual cycle, as vitamin E may help keep their hormones balanced to prevent symptoms.

The review did call for larger studies before making any claims about the vitamin, however.

Some people may not respond well to drinking too much alcohol. A headache is one of the more common side effects of a hangover. This may be because alcohol acts as a diuretic, making the body release more water via the urine.

These kinds of headaches do not only occur with bouts of heavy drinking. Even with light or moderate drinking, alcohol may lead to mild dehydration symptoms in some people or make headaches worse.

Anyone who is uncertain if alcohol affects them in this way could try limiting their drinking and seeing if it changes or prevents their symptoms.

For people who often experience migraines, avoiding strong smells may be a wise step to take when trying to prevent them.

One 2013 study found that odors from sources such as perfumes or other strong-smelling chemicals may trigger migraines after just a few minutes of exposure.

It may help if people avoid sources of these smells, such as department stores, others who wear a lot of perfume, or chemical smells from cleaning products.

There are many different types of headache, and one natural remedy may be more suitable than another to ease a specific kind. Some common headache types include:

• Tension headaches. The most common headache, these often occur after a person has become overstressed and their muscles have tensed. Pain appears in the middle and top of the head, which may feel as if it has a tight rubber band around it.
• Sinus headaches. This type involves pain behind the eyes and nose and a general congested feeling in the head. A similar headache occurs when a person has a hangover.
• Cluster headaches. These headaches may appear throughout the day, causing a stabbing, sharp pain that occurs in one spot of the head.
• Migraines. Migraines usually cause a throbbing pain behind the eyes that grows and pulses throughout the head. The person may also become very sensitive to light, activity, or movement.

There are several natural and home remedies that people can try to get rid of a headache without using medication. Some of these may work better with different types of headache.

In the end, some headaches may still not respond to these methods, and taking an over-the-counter drug, such as ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or naproxen (Aleve), may bring relief.

It is essential not to ignore a persistent headache. An ongoing symptom may be a sign of an underlying issue. People may want to discuss a persistent or particularly severe headache along with other symptoms with a doctor to find and resolve a problem.

treatment and prevention without drugs

Content

• 1 Headache: treatment and prevention of its occurrence
  • 1.1 Causes of headache
    • 1.1.1 Stress
    • 1.1.2 Migraine
    • 1.1.3 Acute infection
    • 1.1. 4 Improper lifestyle
  • 1.2 Exercise to prevent headaches
  • 1.3 Massage and acupressure to relieve headaches
  • 1.4 Nutrition and diet to reduce headaches
  • 1.5 Avoiding headaches: helpful tips
    • 1. 5.1 Avoiding stress: psychological help
  • 1.6 Avoiding strong smells and noisy places: the environment
  • 1.7 Alternative medicine for headaches
    • 1.7.1 Acupuncture
    • 1.7.2 Herbs
    • 1.7.3 Relaxation and massage
  • 1.8 Eye exercises to prevent headaches
  • 1.9 Constant headache? Visit a doctor!
  • 1.10 Prevention of migraine
    • 1.10.1 Maintain daily routine
    • 1.10.2 Eliminate certain foods from the diet
    • 1.10.3 Do not overwork
    • 1.10.4 Stay hydrated
    • 1.10.5 Relaxation techniques
    • 1.10.6 Organize your workplace
  • 1.11 Related videos:
  • 1.12 Q&A:
    • • 1.12.0.1 What non-medicated headache treatments can be used at home?
      • 1.12.0.2 What foods are recommended for headache prevention?
      • 1.12.0.3 What are the main causes of headaches?
      • 1.12.0.4 Can food cause headaches?
      • 1. 12.0.5 What physical exercises can help get rid of a headache?
      • 1.12.0.6 What is acupressure and how can it help with headaches?

Find out effective ways to treat and prevent headaches without harming your health. Our experts will share tips on how to quickly and safely get rid of unpleasant sensations in the head and keep it healthy for many years.

Headache is a common condition that everyone experiences from time to time. And, although the reasons may be different, the single requirement is always the same: get rid of this unpleasant sensation as quickly as possible.

One of the most common mistakes people with headaches make is to go to the pharmacy and buy painkillers. Of course, this method will give a quick effect, but its use can adversely affect health in the future.

In this article, we’ll look at the main types of headaches and give you some tips on how to prevent and treat them without medication.

“Our head is our sacred thing: if it hurts, then something has gone wrong in our body. Don’t treat the symptom, treat the cause.”
– Jean-Paul Borrely

Causes of headaches

Stress

Stress is one of the most common causes of headaches. Nervous tension can cause cramps in the muscles of the head, neck and shoulder girdle, which leads to pain.

Migraine

Migraine is a recurring headache that is usually accompanied by severe pain on one side of the head, nausea and photophobia. Migraines can be aggravated by changes in the environment and prolonged exposure to a darkened room.

Acute infection

An acute infection, such as the flu or a cold, can cause headaches due to high fever, high blood pressure, and body fatigue. Therefore, it is very important not to delay the treatment of the infection and monitor your health.

Wrong lifestyle

Wrong lifestyle, such as lack of sleep, irregular meals, drinking alcohol, smoking, spending a lot of time at the computer, can also cause headaches. However, it is important to take steps to avoid these risk factors in order to stay healthy.

• Stress is one of the most common causes of headache;
• Migraine recurring headache on one side of the head;
• Acute infection – high fever, high blood pressure and body fatigue;
• Wrong lifestyle – lack of sleep, irregular meals, drinking alcohol, spending a lot of time at the computer.

Exercise to prevent headaches

It is worth remembering that many headaches are caused by tension in the neck and shoulders. Therefore, physical exercises aimed at strengthening these muscle groups can help in the prevention of headaches.

1. Neck and shoulder self-massage. It is necessary to massage with circular movements, starting from the base of the head and ending with the shoulders.
2. Head rotation. Turn your head to the right, then slowly to the left and back. Repeat the exercise several times.
3. Head tilts. Raise your head up, then slowly lower it forward until your chin touches your chest. Return to the starting position and repeat the exercise several times.
4. Stretching exercises. Stretch by raising your arms above your head and leaning forward. Lower your arms and repeat the exercise several times.

These exercises can be done throughout the day. They help improve blood circulation in the neck, reduce muscle tension and, as a result, reduce the risk of headaches.

Massage and acupressure for headaches

Headaches can be caused by a variety of causes, including muscle tension, stress, fatigue, and pinched nerves. One of the most effective ways to manage a headache without medication is through massage and acupressure.

Acupressure, on the other hand, involves massaging points on the body that can improve circulation and relieve tension. Some of these points are found on the face, arms and legs. However, you can also use massage points on the head to relieve headaches.

Experience the ease or difficulty of performing acupressure massage on your own head and face with dedicated lessons and online learning materials. However, if you have a severe, throbbing headache, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Nutrition and diet to reduce headaches

If you suffer from frequent headaches, it may be helpful to consider your diet. Some foods can cause headaches or make them worse, while others can help manage pain.

• Avoid alcohol . Alcohol can cause dehydration, which can lead to headaches. In addition, red wine and beer contain tyramine, an alkaloid that can trigger migraines.
• Limit your caffeine intake . Caffeine can help relieve headaches, but it can also cause dehydration and withdrawal effects (increasing pain) when you stop drinking. Your best bet is to reduce the amount of caffeine in your diet, or eliminate it entirely if possible.
• Increase your water and fluid intake . Lack of water can cause headaches, so it’s important to drink enough water throughout the day. You can also consume juices, green tea, mineral water and other liquids to keep your body hydrated.
• Reduce your intake of foods high in salt . High-salt foods can cause dehydration and worsen headaches, so limit your intake. If you want to use salt in your cooking, then natural sea salt is the way to go.

Remember that every body is unique, so it may take some time to find the right foods to help you manage your headache.

How to avoid headaches: tips

Avoid stress: psychological help

One of the most common causes of headaches is stress and emotional tension. Although it is impossible to completely avoid stress in life, there are many ways to deal with it:

• Connect with a specialist : If you feel that you cannot cope with fear, anxiety or depression on your own, visit a professional psychologist or psychotherapist.
• Relaxation exercises : Start practicing yoga, meditation, deep breathing and other relaxation techniques to reduce your stress levels.
• Regular walks : Sometimes just going outside and walking can reduce stress.
• Limit contacts : Try to limit your time spent on social media and watching the news. Information received from social networks often causes stress and anxiety.

Managing stress successfully is one of the main methods of preventing headaches. If you are tired of constant headaches, consider psychological help.

Avoid strong smells and noisy places: the environment

The environment can play an important role in how often headaches occur. Strong odors, like perfume or scented candles, can cause headaches for some people. Noisy places, such as concerts or loud music, can also cause headaches. To avoid these triggers, try avoiding places where they often occur, or take steps to reduce your exposure to them.

In addition, changing the environment can help prevent headaches. Some people may experience headaches due to excess light or a computer screen. Install lights with dimmers to adjust the brightness, or try using software that protects your eyes from excessive glare on your computer screen.

• Tips for avoiding headaches:
  • Avoid strong scents such as scented candles or perfumes.
  • Try to avoid loud places or take steps to reduce your exposure to them.
  • Install luminaires with dimmers for dimming.
  • Use software to protect your eyes from excessive glare on your computer screen.

In general, paying attention to the environment can help prevent and reduce headaches.

Alternative medicine for headaches

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a technique that uses needles to relieve pain and tension in the muscles. Research shows that acupuncture can help with migraines, tension, and cluster headaches.

Herbs

Several herbs can help with headaches, such as buttermint, ginger, skullcap, verbena, and many others. Most herbs can be taken as teas, infusions, or capsules. However, before use, be sure to consult a specialist.

Relaxation and massage

To get rid of headaches, you can try relaxation and massage. Deep breathing, meditation, yoga and simple exercises can reduce muscle tension and improve blood circulation in the head. A simple massage of the head, neck, and back can also help relieve headaches.

Herbs for headaches: How to use:

Scutellaria	Tincture: 1 teaspoon of dried skullcap in a glass of boiling water. Drink 2-3 times a day.
Ginger	Tea: 1 teaspoon of fresh minced ginger per cup of boiling water. Drink 2-3 times a day.
Peppermint oil	Essential oil: Mix 2 drops of peppermint oil with 1 tablespoon of massage oil. Massage the temporal and occipital regions.

Eye exercises to prevent headaches

Eye fatigue is one of the main causes of headaches. To prevent this problem, it is necessary to carry out exercises for the eyes.

1. Eyelid massage
Gently massage closed eyelids with index and middle fingers for 30 seconds. This will help improve blood circulation and reduce eye strain.

2. Five-minute breaks
Take a 5-minute break from computer work or reading every hour. During this time, try to relax your eyes and do eye exercises.

3. Zooming in and out
Move all objects at least 50 cm away from the eyes. Then begin to bring the fingers closer to the nose until they are no longer blurred. Hold in this position for 5 seconds and slowly move your hands back to the starting position.

4. Eye rotations
Turn your eyes up for 5 seconds, then look down for 5 seconds. Repeat this exercise 2-3 more times, turning your eyes in different directions.

The most important thing is to do eye exercises regularly and avoid overworking the eyes.

Constant headache? Visit a doctor!

Headache is a very common condition that can lead to significant problems in daily life. Constant headaches can be due to various causes such as stress, overexertion, hypertension, or even poor eyesight.

Doctors can offer different treatments for headaches, depending on the cause. This may include medication, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, or regular exercise. Sometimes you may need to consult a specialist – a neurologist or ophthalmologist.

A persistent headache should not be ignored as it may be a symptom of a serious medical condition such as hypertension, migraine or a brain tumor. Therefore, if the headache does not go away, be sure to consult a doctor.

Migraine Prevention

Keep a daily routine

A regular daily routine will help your body function properly, reduce stress and prevent headaches. Find your optimal sleep time and try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Do sports or exercise regularly. This will help improve your health and reduce your stress levels.

Avoid certain foods

Nutrition plays an important role in migraine prevention. Avoid eating foods that can trigger a headache, such as alcohol, chocolate, coffee, spicy and fatty foods, raw vegetables and fruits.

Do not overwork

Overwork can cause migraines. Try not to overload your body with physical and mental work, take regular breaks for rest. If you feel tired and have a headache, take a break, drink some water or air.

Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water will help you avoid excess metabolic products in your blood that can cause headaches. The recommended amount of water is 1.5-2 liters per day.

Relaxation techniques

Practicing relaxation can help you relieve tension and prevent migraines. It can be yoga, deep breathing, meditation, head and neck massage, or warm compresses on problem areas.

Organize your workplace

Incorrect posture and an uncomfortable workplace can also cause headaches. Make sure that your workplace meets the necessary requirements: the seat is comfortable, the table is at the right height, the distance from the computer is optimal, and so on.

Related videos:

Q&A:

What non-medicated headache treatments can be used at home?

There are many ways to help manage headaches without medication. It can be a head massage, neck and eye exercises, relaxing bath treatments, aromatherapy, acupressure, etc.

What foods are recommended for headache prevention?

For the prevention of headaches, it is recommended to consume foods rich in magnesium (nuts, seeds, green vegetables), B vitamins (meat, fish, eggs, greens), as well as vegetables and fruits containing antioxidants (blueberries, pomegranate, red wine, dark chocolate).

What are the main causes of headaches?

The main causes of headaches can be various: it can be tension in the muscles of the head and neck, eye strain, low blood pressure, changes in weather, changing time zones, etc.

Can food cause headaches?

Yes, some foods can cause headaches. This can be caused by an allergic reaction, nitrate, tyramine or monosodium glutamate in the product. Such products include: chocolate, cheeses, sausages and delicacies, red wine, etc.

What exercise can help get rid of a headache?

There are various exercises that can help you manage your headache. For example, stretching the muscles of the neck, the bridge exercise, inversion of the head, yoga classes, etc. It is recommended to choose exercises that are designed specifically to cope with a headache.

What is acupressure and how can it help with headaches?

Acupressure is a method based on pressure on certain points of the body with the fingers. For headaches, acupressure can be applied to a limited number of points to eliminate pain. For example, points between the eyebrows, temporal points, points on the hands, etc.

Relieve headaches scientifically. Part 1. Causes of a headache – RISE on vc.ru

Everyone has come across it. A headache prevents you from doing your favorite and useful things, from interesting work to social communication. Each of us may have our own special methods of how to relieve a headache. But over time, they either stop working or require additional effort. The reason lies in the source of pain and really evidence-based methods that can remove this pain.

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In touch RISE , community about nootropics and productivity enhancement. In this material, we will analyze the main causes of headaches, the mechanisms involved in them, and consider ways to stop pain. The material was written using a podcast from Stanford University neuroscientist Andrew Huberman.

Major causes of headache

Each of us can have his own peculiarity of the body. Someone has low blood pressure, and the approaching rain is signified by a lead band around the head. Someone experiences pain inside the head when a deadline approaches or there is a quarrel in the family. What is the reason?

Tissue spasm

Tissue between the brain and skull. Source: Brain Neurosurgery Textbook

If you want to get rid of a headache, it is important to understand exactly where its source is located. The same is true when it comes to anxiety. You can’t fight it without knowing the reasons. When it comes to spasm, and muscle tension, this headache feels like a tight bandage around the head. And its source, as you might guess, is blood vessels and muscles.

Our skull is literally wrapped in muscles that allow us to turn our heads, chew, and express facial expressions. However, these same muscles tend to experience spasms. But, more importantly, it is the muscles that are the key element in provoking different types of headaches. That is, muscles can be both an independent source of pain and its catalyst in other types.

But it’s not the muscles that hurt, but the head! And the causes of headaches are in several layers of tissues that are located both outside the skull and between the brain and the skull. These tissues have their own name – Meningis, respectively, their inflammation is known to us as meningitis.

So, the brain is literally in a dense shell, consisting of several layers of tissue. These tissues need adequate blood supply to function, so a lot of blood vessels and arteries pass through the tissues. Accordingly, changes in pressure, spasm of muscles or blood vessels, will cause the tissues to press against each other, causing a headache. And that very weather sensitivity can be caused by a complex of factors: a decrease in temperature, an increase in external pressure, a cold wind that caused inflammation of facial tissues.

Neural and inflammatory causes of headache

Above we talked about the muscles and tissues that work like semi-inflated mattresses stuffed between the brain and the skull. The comparison is rough but accurate. If one of the mattresses is pumped up more, it will put pressure on the rest, causing pain. But there are other mechanisms for the emergence of this unpleasant feeling.

Neural pain. Known as cluster headache. It originates in the depths of the brain and can give into the eyes. Such pains are terribly painful, and are caused by excessive nervous tension. What can arise when you are trying to figure out how to improve performance even more in an escape from a deadline? And you feel that the brain is ready to explode from pain. Although he, by nature, does not experience pain, and the true source of suffering is the trigeminal nerve.

The trigeminal nerve, respectively, has three branches. These branches touch areas around the eye, around the nose, and near the upper lip. The pain begins due to overexcitation of the nerve or its inflammation. In addition to pain, pupils may narrow, tearing or a slight runny nose may begin. Therefore, anti-inflammatory pills for a mild or early cold will help prevent a decrease in mental and physical performance.

Although inflammation can involve the trigeminal nerve, it is worth considering inflammation separately. And in our time, you can hear that inflammation is almost a ticket to the next world. Therefore, you should start with the fact that the inflammatory process is not as terrible as it seems at first glance.

Inflammatory processes are one of the signaling systems of the body, which is provided by cytokines. They are considered inflammatory proteins, although they are rather anti-inflammatory. These proteins accumulate in a specific place, telling the body that something is wrong here.

Accumulation of these proteins in the neck or head area can cause pain. Inflammation is accompanied by edema, and if it is systemic, then a headache will be just one of the side symptoms. With all this, we do not consider sinusitis. This is a separate case, to which it is time to devote an independent longread.

Origin of pain

Above, we have analyzed 4 main causes of headache: muscle spasm, expansion and compression of tissues, overexcitation of the trigeminal nerve and inflammation. In any case, the nature of pain itself is the work of the nervous system and the transmission of signal impulses. And this is worth stopping for a moment.

Three types of neurons at the edge of headache

Something like this, the body tries to convey that something is going wrong

You already know from published materials that there are many different neurons in the brain. Some produce dopamine, others produce serotonin, others produce GABA, and so on. But there are three distinct types of neurons that are critical to how the body works.

Motor neurons . They control how the muscles work. When walking, typing on the keyboard, they even partially affect the heartbeat and breathing, there are slightly different principles, but motor neurons are also involved in this work.

Sensory neurons . They, like motor neurons, run throughout our body. Their task is to collect and transmit information about everything that happens around us and within us. They distinguish pain and gentle strokes, perceive changes in pressure, etc.

The third type of neurons is modulating neurons . They are intermediaries between sensory and motor neurons. And they partly participate in our learning, creating connections between certain actions, phenomena and the consequences of decisions made. For example, if something suddenly touches the back of your hand, you jerk your hand. This is the result of the work of all three types of neurons.

Why do we talk about types of neurons when talking about headaches? Take the common type of headache, tissue pain, as an example. Let me remind you, it’s like a lead hoop stretched over your head. And we have three ways to “remove” it:

• You can influence motor neurons. Thus, we will relax the tissues, relax the muscles, the pressure will decrease and the pain will go away. To do this, you need to take something that relaxes the muscles.
• You can turn off sensory neurons and stop feeling pain. You will not eliminate the cause, but for some time you may not feel pain.
• Influencing the modulating neurons, you will feel pain, but will not pay attention to it. It can simply become much weaker, or even disappear without “reaching consciousness.”

Based on the material, we have about seven key factors that can be influenced to get rid of a headache. Which gives us several methods for getting rid of headaches. There is no ideal among them, there are different and peculiarities in the use of each of them and the corresponding limitations, which we will discuss in the following materials.