A headache, you would agree, gives you one of the worst feeling you could probably experience. While some headaches last just a few minutes; others persist for hours together and are an absolute pain (literally!) to deal with. Whether you experience frequent headaches or sporadic ones, whether a headache is a byproduct of a bad cold or a result of a long day in front of the computer screen, addressing it and getting quick relief is (and should be) your first priority. While over-the-counter medications and doctor visits are a given when the condition starts to worsen, there are a few things that you can try at home (or at work) the next time a headache comes knocking on your door. From tension headaches and migraines to cluster headaches and debilitating headaches, here is a useful list of tips that could help alleviate the pain:
- Get ample rest and sleep
A lot of health problems can be attributed to your body not getting enough rest. When you compromise on your sleep or follow uneven sleeping patterns, it might result in chronic headaches. Get your daily dose of sleep, stay away from any kind of screen before going to bed and avoid stimulants like nicotine, caffeine, sugar, and alcohol. You could do a bit of reading or treat yourself to a warm shower instead!
- Pamper yourself with a massage
Massages can do wonders in terms of relieving tension and migraine headaches. Massage therapy can help release the tension accumulated in the upper quarter of your body the shoulders, neck, and head. This ensures lesser pressure on the nerves and blood vessels. You could either do it yourself, ask someone to give you a massage or even consider hiring a professional masseuse. Heres an innovative 3-in-1 massager that is great for massaging your head, scalp, neck, shoulder, and eyes.
- Stay hydrated
Lack of water content in your body can quickly turn into a throbbing headache. Just follow the age-old advice and drink lots of water throughout the day (and a glass before you go to bed). You could even consider sipping on a beverage that contains electrolytes (Gatorade, for instance) but water does the trick for most people.
- Try headache relief bands
Splitting headaches can often lead you to apply pressure on your head with your hands. Instead, why not apply even pressure by wearing a headache relief band? Such bands are known to reduce discomfort, compress blood vessels and provide a cooling effect. Check out Visscosmulti-use re-freezable ortho headache belt.
- Indulge in some tea therapy
Herbal teas or green tea have been around for centuries and are known to be effective natural headache relievers. Chamomile tea and peppermint tea are also great when it comes to addressing persistent headaches.
- Meditation and breathing
Stress is a major cause of headaches. Meditation and conscious breathing exercises have proved to work well in such cases. According to a study conducted by the American Migraine Foundation, meditation is capable of reducing migraine frequency by 1.4 incidents per month. So, the next time you feel a throbbing headache, sit or lie down and indulge in some deep breathing exercises, focusing all your energy into meditating and slowly relaxing the ache. While medications can ease your pain, altering your lifestyle and avoiding certain triggers can certainly work as preventive measures. If these home remedies dont give you the expected results, you could try alternative therapies like wearing an aloe vera gel face mask or Dr. Vaidyas Headache Pack. Check out our section dedicated to headache relief products.
