According to a report by the WHO, only 53% adults did not feel a headache since last year; which is quite alarming and common to be exact. Headache-the literal one- has been prevalent in all age groups since man came to earth and we get one at any time or any place. Although there are several reasons to why you would feel a headache, we will talk about how to purge off of them and get rid of headache.
Common Causes and Different Types of Headaches
There are probably more than two hundred causes but most of them are harmless, though some of them can be severe. But headaches can be categorized into two types:
Primary Headaches
It is a standalone pain that is caused due to the overactivity or problems with the structures that are painfully sensitive, i.e. related to all the chemical activities that is happening inside the brain. Most common are the tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches. Tension headaches are the most common type of a primary headache and usually are treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medications for pain. But there are other primary headaches too, that are associated with the secondary headaches. They can be categorized under the following symptoms:
- Pain over the scalp
- Physical toils
- Physically stimulated by external pressure and temperature
- Many other types of Headaches
Secondary Headaches
These kinds of headaches are stimulated by other conditions symptoms. The pain sensitive nerves of the head are stimulated by these conditions. A lot of conditions can be seen as the cause of secondary headaches. Medication, brain disorder and addiction are the major causes of secondary headaches. Tooth and Sinus problems can result secondary headaches whereas life-threatening conditions like internal brain bleeding can also do so. Traumatic headaches are in this classification as well as the post-concussion headaches too.
Here are some of the conditions which simulate secondary headaches:-
- Influenza
- Dehydration
- Glaucoma
- Brain Freeze
- Blood clots
- Panic attacks and strokes
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
Cranial and Other Headaches
Cranial Neuralgia is caused by the inflammation of one of the nerves that supply the motor and sensation functions of the head and neck. Moreover, Trigeminal Neuralgia is another condition causing intense facial pain by affecting cranial nerve V.
12 Best Tips to Get Rid of Headache Fast and Naturally
1. Reduce Stress and Tension
Firstly, headaches can occur due to migraines, tension, allergic reaction, sunlight, any certain type of food, fever, stress and more. The most common cause of it is due to stress, migraine, allergic reaction and tension. Mostly, it is felt by people of all age groups and it is more prevalent in adults than in children.
Besides this, frequent headaches can also be symptoms to a more complicated underlying medical condition like a brain tumor or any neurological problem, it is, therefore, best to consult a doctor before taking any hard drug.
If you want a booster to ease your stress, you should try some home remedies to soothe your weary nerves like warm tea.
2. Drink Enough Water
Water is an essential part to live and you should drink adequate amount of water. Water tends to “clear” your body of the toxin and make you feel better. It is best to at least drink 2.5 to 3.5 liters of water every day so that your body stays well.
However, you should be aware that if you have a headache due to cold, excessive water intake can instead severely the ache, therefore, be aware of the cause of headache first. If your headache is related to cold, you should drink warm water or any other warm fluid, like tea or coffee. Drink a lot of soup as well. It will relieve you from headache.
If you do not have a cold problem, fill up a large flask with water and drink from it every few minutes. That way, you will not feel excessively bloated yet fill your daily quota of water.
3. Take Rest
For many, resting helps with less the pain and so you should try to find a place that is noiseless, placid and where there is no source of heavy or bright light. Make sure you are away from all sorts of noise and then you take deep breaths. As there is no light and no sound, your brain will feel relief and this will actually help to get rid of headache.
Sometimes, taking a short nap helps too, but if the agony is too much then trying to sleep becomes an ordeal instead.
While you rest, try to put your feet up onto something high. This will help with easing up the headache.
4. Munch on Gingerroot
There is a process called prostaglandin synthesis. It takes place in animals that synthesizes lipid or fat compounds into their cells. These fatty substances are little chemical transmitters that reconcile biological processes, such as inflammation and making neurons aware to pain.
Ginger root is a natural ingredient that can inhibit this synthesis too. Along with that, if you are down with a bad migraine, it could help bring down nausea that comes along with migraine. All you have to do is just relax on your back and sip a steaming mug of gingerroot tea, waiting for your headache to go away.
Directions:
- Take some raw ginger root and slice off 3 quarter slices from it. Make sure you get the size correct.
- Take a mug of water and bring it to a boil.
- Gently put the pieces in and simmer them in the water. Cover the water and keep for thirty minutes.
- Drain the water in a mug if you want. You could also leave the boiled pieces of gingers in the water.
- Sip the tea and breathe in steam as well. It will be beneficial.
5. Well Prepared Bedroom
A comfortable pillow and bed help like magic in reducing headaches, and you should, therefore, make sure that the bed you are lying on is actually giving you the peace of mind. For many, light intensity is a factor which makes either intensifies or lowers a headache. In the course of wintertime, it will be effective if the room you are in, is well heated.
Before you go out to buy yourself a comfy bed, you first have to make sure what you are comfortable with. Some people find harder mattresses more comfortable. Once you determine your comfort accessories, you can then buy and enjoy those to relieve your headache.
6. Soft Massage
Massaging is an age-old remedying that helps to ease the pain. It is best if you can massage your forehead, especially the region around your temples. For many, an intense acupressure helps while for the others, a calm and easing massage is good. It is best for those who have the ache due to a tension or a worry; also, anxiety and depression cause headaches too.
Migraine and sinus headaches can be relieved by fiddling the area around your nose and eye socket. Moreover, a good scalp massage using lukewarm oil is beneficial too.
If you massage your ears when your migraine hits, you will find that it helps with headache. You should do this every morning and every night.
7. Lemon or Lemon Juice
Lemon is a valuable feature that helps to relieve the ache. You can try to do this-
Directions:
- Take a glass of warm water, mixed with lemon juice in it with some salt.
- Gulp it down and this home treatment will benefit you more than anything.
Ginger, on the other hand, is a spice and it will wane the pain in your head. Try taking a piece of ginger in your mouth and chew on it like a chewing gum; it is best if you take a bit of honey with it else the ginger will burn your mouth.
Also, you can try extracting the juice of the ginger, mix it with and then gulp it down by mixing it with lukewarm water. This can get rid of a headache.
You can also try to make some tea with ginger.8. Lavender Oil, Peppermint Oil, Basil Oil
8. Lavender Oil, Peppermint Oil, Basil Oil
For lavender oil, it can be either inhaled or applied externally. In a cup of boiled water, put 2-3 drops of lavender oil and inhale it. But it should never be inhaled.
Peppermint oil can also be inhaled likewise lavender oil. It can also be massaged on the forehead and around the jaws and temples.
Basil can be taken as a tea by boiling some leaves and sipping it later. For mild headaches basil oil can be rubbed on the head and sometimes chewing its leaves becomes useful.
9. Peppermint
Peppermint is comforting for headaches and you can try different methods to ingest it. for example, you can do the following-
Directions:
- Take some water and bring it to a boil.
- Take some peppermint and put it into the water. After thirty seconds, turn the heat off.
- Drain the water in a cup and put a teabag in it.
- Drink this tea every morning and you will see that you will not have a headache all day.
Last but not the least, if you take a hot water bath, then, it can help too. Prolonged headaches are easily lessened if, you, every night, put your legs in a bucket full of hot water for about 15 to 20minutes.10. Feverfew and Diet Fixes
10. Feverfew and Diet Fixes
Feverfew is an Herbal homemade remedy used to treat headaches. It works best when taken together with another kind of it called white willow.
Diet fixes relate to the fact that certain food habit to be maintained to control or lessen headaches. But one must enlist foods that are convenient and healthy for the reducing headaches.
But people should seek care of the doctor or be hospitalized when they face new onset headaches, change in behavior, or change in sensation.
11. Avoid Bad Habits
Try avoiding smoking and drinking because they contribute to you having a bad headache. If you want to get rid of your headache, you must avoid these. If you have a problem functioning throughout the day without smoking, you can consider nicotine patches instead of smoking cigarettes.
Alcohol addiction brings your body to a completely different system which is very harmful. This will make your headache problem much acuter. Therefore, take care about these addictions.
12. Over-the-Counter
In the past, there were no specialists or clinics or better methods to diagnose the reason for headache. Besides this, there were no instant remedies to the problem, but, instant remedies do not always help or are good for the long term. To rid of headaches, the first thing you can do is take an Aspirin or a Paracetamol. These are available as over-the-counter drugs and come in all different proportions.
How to Prevent Headaches: Things to Remember
The general ways to treat headaches are to take enough rest and take relief medication. Usual medicines can be taken, but according to the doctor prescribing take such as tricyclic. Anti-epileptic drugs are convenient too and likewise are helpful. But doctor’s advice must be followed in taking medication in order to prevent rebound headaches. If the headache situation is worse than hospitalization is required.
Here are some of the tips to follow in your daily lifestyle to ease headaches:
- Take a warm bath (do bathe regularly)
- Eat regularly by maintaining time. (This should be strictly followed)
- Take enough rest and sleep regularly
- Don’t do things that are quite stressful i.e. puts a lot of pressure physically and mentally.
- Put an ice or heat pack around your neck and head(whenever the headaches appear)
Follow the steps that we are providing here and get rid of your headache quickly, safely and naturally.
Disclaimer: The author of this article is not a medical expert. The information provided here is based on extensive web research and extracted from several high authority health websites. Therefore, you are advised to practice these home remedies, medicines and suggestions on your own risk.