Headaches maybe common and mostly are not very serious, but that does not make them any less challenging. Notwithstanding the pain, headaches are extremely disruptive, preventing one from carrying on with their routine life.
Persistent headaches are even worse. Unlike the obsolete belief that tension headaches are caused due to emotional upheaval, their cause is still a conundrum. Similarly, migraines very often are due to unknown causes. Therefore. there is not much in terms of willing the aches away.
Many people thus resort to using OTC painkillers, including NSAIDs. While these provide momentary relief, their overuse not only results in ineffectiveness of the pills, but gastric issues also ensue.
Hence, if you are suffering from headaches, it is best to consult your General Physician in Lahore for treatment first.
Whereas the precise treatment is contingent on the type of headache, however, some useful remedies for all types include:
1 Cold and warm compress
Beneficial especially for migraines and tension headaches are the cold and hot compresses. For making a cold compress, either take the gel pack and put it in the freezer for some time or take ice and wrap it in dishcloth. Bag of frozen peas etc. can also be used.
Place the ice pack on the neck, or the part where the ache is greatest. Be sure to not apply the pack for more than 10 minutes.
For the hot pack, you can either heat the gel pack or use warm towel. You can also make a DIY pack by filling a fabric bag with rice, and sewing it shut. A round of the microwave will make it toasty enough to serve as a hot pack.
Put the hot pack on the neck or the forehead for relief.
For migraines, application of heat to the hands and feet alongside neck, head and forehead is also effective. You can either rest limbs in small bucket of water, take warm both or even hot shower will do as well.
2 Sleep
Lack of quality shuteye is at times behind the perpetual headaches. Not only does getting sufficient sleep act as a deterrent for future headaches, but it also helps to cure them. Therefore, try sleeping when your head is pounding.
Moreover, make sure that you get around 7-9 hours of sleep daily. In this endeavor, you have to commit to making lifestyle changes. Some helpful tips include not using screens when in bed; the content riles people up whereas the blue light emitted sends body signals of it not being bedtime.
Also, do not do bedtime snacking as acid reflux then makes it hard to sleep. Ensure that the temperature in the room is optimal, and light is minimal. Have a fixed bedtime routine, so that your body falls into the habit.
3 Hydrate
Dehydration also a common culprit behind headaches. According to research published in Elsevier, dehydration acts as a trigger for tension-type headaches and migraines.
Other symptoms of dehydration include irritability, thirst, concentration, disorientation, infrequent urination, dark colored-pee, dry lips etc. So, if your headache coincides with these factors, dehydration is a strong contender as the cause for the headache.
Therefore, be sure to load up on water. Keep a bottle handy at all times. You can also use the tracker app to help you in drinking requisite water. Moreover, as caffeine is a diuretic, when you drink too much of caffeine but not enough water to make up for the loss, you increase the risk for dehydration.
Hence, moderate the usage of caffeinated beverages. You can also eat fruits like oranges with high water-content to keep your body well-hydrated.
4 Breathing exercises and relaxation techniques
Breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques are especially useful in cases of tension-induced headaches. Moreover, many a times, the headache is so severe, that entire body goes into stress mode and muscles clench due to the stress in the body. Breathing exercises also helps in improving these secondary symptoms of headaches.
Yoga is especially useful, as it combines relaxation techniques with certain poses that help in migraine relief.
5 Turn off the lights and the sounds
Headaches can be aggravated due to light and noise. Migraines especially become painful due to these stimuli. Hence, rest in a dark and quiet place.
6 Massage
Massage is great for releasing tension in the body, particularly the knots in the neck. This tension can also cause headache, and as massage helps in the release of this stress, it also thus helps in headache relief.
7 Aromatherapy
Certain scents can trigger a soothing response in the body. Aromatherapy is used as a healing technique for numerous issues, including headaches. Soothing scents for the headache include peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus.
If your headache persists regardless of the remedies and painkillers, you should visit your General Physician in Islamabad for help.
