Aspirin, Analgin, Ibuprofen – no need to eat handfuls of over-the-counter pills that promise to relieve headaches as such a hobby can have the opposite effect. A common headache can be overcome with a healthier yet holistic approach. Even just getting enough water or changing your sleep patterns can help prevent throbbing in your head.
How To Get Rid Of Headaches?
Headaches can really mess up your life if left untreated. Here are some ways you can surely deal with any type of headache.
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Review Your Sleep Patterns
Dr. Newman- a specialist doctor, encourages his patients to follow mnemonic codes related to health to live a healthy life. Due to migraines, a person’s brain gets oversensitive or overactive. In this case, any change or deviation could trigger a migraine—for example, too much or too little sleep.
A regular, repetitive daily routine can also help with spontaneous headaches. What differentiates a migraine from other headaches is that it causes vomiting and sensitivity to light, smell, and sound. But health tips are good for any headache. In any case, it is worth leaving the habit of sleeping off on the weekends and sticking to a constant time of going to bed and waking up.
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Eat Regularly
If you do not eat your breakfast regularly, it’s time to start. Regular nourishment from morning to evening can help relieve headaches. It is not necessary to eat all three meals of the day, you can also choose healthy snacks like almonds to stay full. By maintaining such a habit, you can surely get rid of headaches.
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Quit Smoking And Alcohol
Nicotine from cigarettes, cigars, and even secondhand smoke can contribute to migraines or cluster headaches. This compound constricts blood vessels and reduces blood flow to the brain, causing you to have a headache. According to the Cleveland Clinic, quitting cigarettes or avoiding smoking areas can prevent pain.
Besides, alcohol is also a trigger for migraines. Thus, you need to quit it so you can say goodbye to headaches. However, getting help from a professional to give up alcohol addiction can be expensive. But these insurances like Humana insurance coverage can take off the financial burden from you. So quit smoking and alcohol to have a healthy brain.
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Exercise More Often
Of course, exercising with dizziness is not a good idea. However, it is worth listening to Dr. Newman. According to him, exercises help to release important hormones called endorphins, which are natural pain relievers.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends exercising at least 150 minutes per week with moderate-intensity exercise. This could be walking, swimming, cycling, jogging, or your favorite gym activity.
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Drink Enough Water
Dr. Newman notes that dehydration is a known trigger for migraines, so make sure you drink enough water. Most of us need to drink at least eight glasses a day, as recommended by board-certified dietitian Jacqueline London.
But you need to increase the quantity more when there are more heat, sweat, and changes in humidity. According to the dietitian, it is important to start your day by drinking water. Place a 500 ml container of water on your bedside table or go to the kitchen in the morning for drinking water.
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Keep Your Stress In Check
Noah Rosen, MD, director of the Northwell Health Headache Center in Great Neck, NY, recommends progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) to deal with stress. According to him, it helps to relax muscles that cause headaches when tensed deeply. Thus, one can surely deal with a headache by taking less stress.
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Limit Caffeinated Drinks
If you are a coffee lover and drink several cups in the morning, skipping coffee can cause headaches. Those who drink caffeinated drinks more often may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches if they don’t get their daily dose of caffeine. Drinking too many caffeinated drinks can also cause headaches in some people. Thus, try not to exceed 150 milligrams of caffeine per day (about two cups of coffee).
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Try Hot Compress Or An Ice Pack
Which one you prefer is up to you, but both can help with migraines and headaches. According to Dr. Newman, ice packs can help as they can numb the pain for some time. Hot compresses help to reduce the pain as they increase the flow of blood to the affected area. At home, try showering with warm running water.
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Get A Massage
With tension headaches, some people also experience increased muscle tension. Letting go of trigger points can help, says Dr. Newman. He advises that one can deal with such pain by putting pressure on muscles (trapezius) of the shoulders.
Pressure on the temples or ears can also help relieve muscle tension. It is surely hard to do it on your own; thus, it is better to ask someone to give you a good massage.
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Relax In A Dark And Quiet Place
According to Dr. Rosen, light sensitivity is a major sign of a migraine. Light and noise can become unbearable and harmful to such people. Moving away from anything that aggravates pain can help you deal with it a hundred times faster. If you are having trouble with privacy, try closing your eyes and relax a little to reduce the pain.
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Take Vitamin B2
According to Dr. Newman, those who take high doses of vitamin B2 or riboflavin are proven to have reduced migraines. Taking 400 mg of this nutrient has a positive effect on adult migraine patients, according to a 2017 review published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
Summing Up
If you have a headache once a week or more often, or the headache is accompanied by formidable signs, do not hesitate to consult a doctor. Otherwise, try these measures to prevent and reduce headaches. Be careful and always seek professional help if you are concerned about your health condition.