Headache From A To Z - Causes And Ways Of Dealing
Headache? Read a detailed guide-instructions for getting rid of different types of headaches, as well as the proper lifestyle and the prevention of migraines!
Here you will find information about the types of headaches, their causes and natural remedies for relieving pain at home.
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| Headache From A To Z - Causes And Ways Of Dealing |
Use quick links to navigate to the desired information:
o Quick ways to relieve headaches
o Prevention of migraine
o Natural remedies for headaches
o Useful physical exercises for headache
o Change your lifestyle
o Types of headaches
o Advice and warnings for headache
Almost each of us has faced a headache. It may be different from mild dizzy to feeling like your head is going to explode. Of course, for each kind of pain in the head there is a separate method of treatment. But we offer you to familiarize yourself with some universal techniques that will allow you to quickly and permanently get rid of debilitating pain.
Quick ways to relieve headaches
1. Take pain, over-the-counter. Most pain begins to act in about 30 minutes so the medicine should be taken as soon as you feel the first signs of a headache. Some are Very effective like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen or aspirin.
Do not take aspirin if you are under 19 years old. Also it is contraindicated in children. Use alternative analgesic that can help avoid Reye's syndrome – a rare but deadly side effect of aspirin.
2. Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can cause headaches, especially after you threw up or after heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages. As soon as you feel the approach of pain, drink a full glass of water, and then throughout the day drink water often, but in small SIPS. Gradually the pain will recede.
You also need to refrain from coffee, alcohol, sugary drinks – they also cause dehydration. Plain water is the best solution for headache.
3. Find a quiet and dark place to rest. If possible, you should lie down and relax at least for half an hour. Close the curtains, turn off the lights and concentrate on your breathing.
Take care of peace and quiet. In that case, when you have to relax with other people, take the time to explain to them that you have a headache and ask him to leave you alone and not to disturb for some time.
Adjust the temperature in the room. Some people can only relax in a cool room, while others prefer to relax under a big blanket near the heater. When you go to rest, try to experiment with different temperature modes to choose for themselves the best.
Try to avoid tension headache (headache associated with stress). Make sure the bed or couch is very comfortable, and my head is in a position that causes tension in the muscles of the neck.
4. Use cold compresses. Soft and cold compress applied to the forehead helps the blood vessels to narrow, which will significantly ease the headache. This technique is quite effective if the pain is concentrated in your temples or sinuses.
Moisten a cloth with cold water and apply it to your forehead. As soon as the compress becomes warm, re-refrigerate it.
Preparation of compress long-acting. Put wet cloth in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer for 30 minutes. Then put the compress on the forehead, this pack will last for a long time, especially because a plastic bag will protect your skin from the icy moisture.
5. Massage your scalp, neck and earlobes. A light massage will not only distract from pain but also improve blood circulation and relieve stress. The easiest way is to gently press your fingers on your temples and slowly massage in a circular motion. But you can also use more advanced techniques:
head Massage. Take a shower and pamper yourself with a head massage, it is enough to make movements, if you lather your hair with shampoo. Alternatively, you can apply on your fingers coconut oil or argan and RUB it into the scalp.
Take two tennis balls and put them in a sock. Lie down on a flat surface, placing these two balls just below the base of the skull on the occipital bone, and relax. First of all, you can feel the sinus pressure or even slight discomfort, but these feelings quickly pass. This method is very effective in a case of sinus headache. (headache in the region of the paranasal sinuses).
Just a few of the movements made by loving person will bring the desired relaxation and relief. Special attention should be paid to the neck.
Massaging the bridge of the nose is effective for sinus pain and migraines.
6. Enjoy sex. Making love not only relieve stress and normalize blood pressure, they also stimulate the production of the hormone oxytocin, which, in turn, promotes the release of endorphins – natural painkillers in the human body.
7. Practice relaxation techniques. Throughout the world people use a lot of tricks in order to avoid pain. When headache reaches its climax, do not worry about the development of new techniques – just try not to leave your comfort zone.Based on new techniques of meditation you will be able to read at any other time when the health will improve). However, the following techniques you can use almost any time:
o Meditation.
o Prayer.
o Deep breath.
o Visualization.
o Listening to binaural beats.
Prevention of migraine
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| Prevention of migraine |
o The pain in the eyes;
o Vision lost clarity or there is a blind spot;
o Tunnel vision;
o Stars or pulsating zigzag lines before the eyes;
o Nausea;
o Problems with concentration;
o Difficulty finding the right words.
2. Take pain prescription. Do not forget that the analgesics takes effect only after 40 minutes, therefore, it is important to take the medicine before the pain gets any worse. Use ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen or aspirin.
Take analgesics containing caffeine. The composition of most of painkillers that help with headache or migraine, is not only analgesic drug, but also caffeine. However you can combine an analgesic with a Cup of coffee or black tea.
Do not take aspirin if you are under 19 years old. Also it is contraindicated in children. In this case, use alternative analgesic that can help avoid Reye's syndrome – a rare but deadly side effect of aspirin.
3. Remove the stress. Stress reduces dopamine levels in the body, which can lead to migraines. As soon as you feel the approach of a migraine, use the following techniques to help you relax:
Relaxation. Meditation, prayer, practice breathing exercises or other known methods of relaxation. Take it easier and not worry about having to learn something new - use the methods you know well.
Write down what is bothering you. Under stress due to the loaded schedules or any important event, be sure to make a list of disturbing causes. Just imagine that you are putting all your worries on paper and will deal with them when the migraine passes. Drawing up such a list eliminates the need to constantly think about your problems.
Resort to escapism. Briefly run away from your difficulties. Watch movies, play games, read books or try to find any other convenient way to abstract from everyday hustle and bustle.
4. Rest in a cool, dark room. If you have free time, then swipe in this area for 30 minutes to relax and calm your migraine. The coolness will help to cope with nausea, and the darkness will ease the symptoms associated with visual impairment.
5. On time ask for help to the doctor. Despite severe pain and discomfort inherent in any migraine, it is not life-threatening. However, one should clearly know when to use the services of a doctor. Immediately contact the hospital, when:
o Such a severe headache you have not experienced before;
o The pain is worse in the supine position;
o If the headache begins suddenly, without symptoms;
o If Speech, vision or movement significantly impair, especially if these symptoms are observed for the first time.
Natural remedies for headaches
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| Natural remedies for headaches |
2. Try to be treated with herbs. There are several herbs which help to get rid of a headache:
Feverfew: You can Take pills or capsules, but also make its herbal tea or add it to food as spice (just keep in mind that this herb have a bitter taste). The effectiveness of pyrethrum is not fully proven, but it is the fact that this plant is used for medicinal purposes for several centuries. The feverfew has no serious side effects. However, you may experience pain, sores of the mouth, nausea, digestive problems or bloating. With prolonged use, the plant can cause sleep disturbance and to cause headaches.
Also quite effective supplements with willow bark, magnesium, peppermint or lavender. However, it should be noted that usefulness of these additives does not have sufficient scientific basis. However, if you feel relief after taking these drugs, then abandoning them is not necessary.
Tea. The Cup of tea from passionflower, rosemary or lavender will greatly ease the headache. But peppermint or chamomile tea will help you relax.
3. Use aromatherapy. There are many products for aromatherapy, but some basic essential oils are best way to treat pain in the head. These include lavender, marjoram, chamomile. These oils can be used for massage of the neck, pulmonary, or add them while bathing in the bathroom.
To quickly relieve the pain, mix 5 drops oil of rosemary, nutmeg, lavender with massage oil. Massage your neck and upper back.
If you have a vaporizer, add 7 drops of lavender oil and 3 drops of peppermint oil – and spend a inhalation session. Alternatively, you can apply some peppermint oil on a handkerchief and breathe deeply a few times through it.
4. Use homeopathic remedies. If you trust homeopathy, you may use certain drugs in order to relieve occasional headaches:
- Bryony: excellent remedy to relieve headaches caused by muscular strain.
- Ignacy: it is optimized to eliminate the pain in the head due to emotional exhaustion.
5. Eat right. Lack of food can also trigger headaches, so make sure to eat properly and enough. In addition, certain products can even help to ease the pain. Certainly, no medical reason for the consumption of these products no, but they have helped many people and it may help you.
Eat the almonds. Hazelnut painkillers contain chemicals that can relieve the symptoms of headaches.
Spice things up with Cayenne pepper. This type of pepper is considered to be another stimulant for the production of endorphins that will also help get rid of headaches. You can apply this type of pepper in food, but experts say that the most effective local application. So do not be amiss to consult with your doctor (or a chef) about topical application of Cayenne pepper.
Quite effective compresses vinegar (preferably vinegar was homemade or at least Apple).
Consume drinks with caffeine. It is the caffeine that constricts the blood vessels, which will also help to relieve the pain.However, excessive consumption of caffeine may instead trigger a migraine, so the next Cup of coffee should replace it with tea. However, caffeine is able to increase the effects of painkillers, so it is part of many analgesics.
Useful physical exercises for headache
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| Useful physical exercises for headache |
2. Yoga. The main purpose of yoga is to relax your muscles, which will reduce or eliminate pain. A simple neck workout or relaxation exercises will benefit.
3. Walks in the fresh air. This method is especially effective if you spend much time in a sitting position, and your head is filled with different thoughts. Physical activity improves blood circulation, new landscapes will have a positive impact on the perception of the world, and the fresh air will awaken to action. By the time you return home feeling much better.
Change your lifestyle
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| Change your lifestyle |
Don't forget to take regular breaks during work and rest your eyes. Exercise for the eyes by focusing at specific points at different distances. In addition, Get up in every hour get and do a little workout.
2. Change your diet. changes in nutrition do not immediately remove the headache, but in the long term, the source of the pain may disappear. If you do not know how to organize your diet, consult a physician, dietitian or a naturopath.
First of all, find out whether you have any food allergies and eliminate these foods from your diet.
Reduce intake of caffeine, because its excessive consumption can cause headaches. However, complete abstinence from caffeine can also cause temporary pain, although after a while all normalizes.
It is also desirable to exclude the diet foods that contain monosodium glutamate, nitrites and nitrates (for example, sausages), tyramine (aged cheese, wine, beer, and processed meats), sulphites (dried fruits, condiments, and wine), and salicylates (tea, vinegar and some fruits).
3. To treat musculoskeletal system. If you have problems with your back or neck, bad posture and muscle strain, they can provoke headaches. Certain exercises can eliminate these sources of pain – stretching, yoga or Pilates. It is extremely important to seek the advice of a specialist, physiotherapist or chiropractor, an osteopath.
4. Ask for help to the professionals. Quite often the source of headaches can be problems in other parts of the head. In this case, you must consult a qualified physician. For example, you should definitely visit the dentist, if you have the offset of the jaw, tooth decay, abscesses, or infected the place tooth extraction. To the optometrist should be handled with visual impairment, it can also trigger headaches due to eyestrain. In addition, the cause of the pains in head is diseases of ear, throat, nose, so a visit to the ENT specialist should not be delayed.
5. Calm down. Constant anger, irritation or frustration can cause severe headaches. You should seek professional help from a psychologist, who will teach several highly effective ways to manage their emotions.
During emotional stress we often clenches our teeth. Try to make an effort and relax the muscles of the face. It is enough just to yawn.
If in the near future or anticipated stressful situations, e.g. exams, wedding or obtaining a driver's license, be sure to do some relaxation exercises.
Types of headaches
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| Types of headaches |
Below is the list of major varieties of headache, which confirms the diversity of reasons for its occurrence, so it is important to determine the type of headache to choose the most effective course of treatment:
o Tension pain – the most common type of headache. It mostly appears after physical or emotional stress but can last for hours or even days. Tension headache occurs as a result of muscle contraction. It is often felt behind the eyes and in the forehead, but the pain can occur anywhere in the head and even give back. This pain can be dull, as well as recurrent, if you have not discovered its source. It may be accompanied by malaise, nausea, especially when anxiety or depression.In principle, this type of pain responds well to painkillers, rest or stress relief.
o Headache caused by overuse of medicines: this type of pain is also quite common. It provokes the abuse of drugs. Most often, headache occurs as a symptom of a cancellation after long-term use of analgesics. To stop this type of pain, just enough to stop using medications. This process will take time, but in the end the pain will stop. It should be noted that the symptoms of this type of headache is very similar to the signs of a tension pain.
o Headache caused by a hangover: the pain is so real, how real is the consumption of alcohol the night before! Symptoms include throbbing pain, nausea, and bad General condition. Don't forget to drink plenty of fluids and be patient.
o Headache caused by Allergy to products: if you suffer headaches caused by allergies, you will suffer from runny nose and watery eyes. This type of headache is considered seasonal, so you should consult with your doctor about the choice of antihistamines. For such pain and also common other symptoms – chest pain, burning sensation in the torso, neck or shoulders, throbbing in the head. Nitrites and nitrates in meat can cause headaches of varying intensity.Also, if you quickly enjoy a cold drink or eat ice cream, there is a risk to cause "brain freeze", is quite painful, but short-term state.
o Migraine: migraine throbbing headache accompanied by severe nausea, sometimes vomiting. You may also experience problems with vision – the objects of the surrounding world appears "aura", they can start to flicker, in addition, vision can partially abyss. Some migraines cause numbness or weakness. The emergence of migraine could contribute to reactions to food, stress, hormonal changes. Some people suffer from migraines on heredity. This type of pain requires special attention, you should consult with your doctor to choose the right medication and also other therapies.
o Cluster headaches: this is a pretty common type of headache that spreads around the eyes or affects only one side of the head. They may be accompanied by drooping (ptosis) of the upper eyelid, nasal discharge, watery eyes. Cluster headaches are 4 times more common in males, particularly in adolescence and middle age, and can be permanent. When there is a cluster pain it is extremely important to consult a doctor for advice and treatment. There are several medications and treatments that can ease symptoms.
o Headache, caused by tension in other parts of the body: headache can cause stuffy sinuses, colds, virus, fever, coughing, physical exertion, hunger, eyestrain, neck strain or back, arthritis, problems with the teeth. In each case, you need to consult with your doctor, because it will require treatment of the body as a whole, not only the elimination of headaches. In addition, pain can cause permanent wearing of certain things, for example, goggles, and certain types of hairstyles (tight tail), to eliminate the pain, it is necessary to abandon uncomfortable accessories or change the method of installation.
o Headache, caused by the consequences of the accident: getting into a car accident and head trauma, while it may also cause headache. It may be accompanied by concussion, skull fracture, internal bleeding, so it is important to immediately seek medical help. Post-traumatic headaches can arise as a result of an accident or injury, they are extremely difficult to treat and may require the intervention of a psychologist or psychiatrist.
o Headache caused by tumor: it is pretty rare, so when you have any suspicions, immediately contact your doctor. Some symptoms of a brain tumor can include numbness or weakness of limbs, slurred speech, impaired vision, epileptic fits, personality changes, or loss of balance. It is very rare that the tumor is manifested only in headache.
o Headache caused by altitude sickness: while suffering altitude sickness, the pain can manifest either in the whole head or only one side. Often this pain occurs in climbers who do not use oxygen. In the treatment of altitude sickness one should take precautions.
o Other pain: there are many reasons for the occurrence of headaches, so it's best to consult a doctor. If you have any doubt, immediately visit the hospital.
Advice and warnings for headache
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| Advice and warnings for headache |
Tips: o Don't be afraid to pause and take a break during the festivities. If you will stay and to pretend to feel fine, the headache will only intensify. It is best to relax a bit and rejoin the company of friends.
o If possible, leave your hair down, abandoning the ponytail or braid.
o If you frequently suffer from migraines, work out with the physician treatment plan. Avoid foods such as cheese or chocolate. Sleep and eat regularly – it is extremely important for avoiding migraines.
o When you are suffering tension pain, the availability of ready meals in the freezer will help – it will bring the desired relief.So, you will save yourself from the stress of not asking the question of what to cook for dinner. Instead of standing at the stove, you can relax after a hard day's work.
o Keep a diary of your headaches. First of all, it will help to identify patterns of onset of pain. Whether they appear after a particularly stressful period at work, eating certain foods, the onset of menstruation, etc. as a result, you will be able to prevent the headache long before it appeared.
o Try a few methods for headaches. Not all of them will fit, so it is important to control those symptoms, which may serve as a signal for immediate treatment to the doctor.
o Some people CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) can trigger headache, therefore, these light sources should be replaced by ordinary incandescent bulbs or LEDs.
o Look at your lifestyle from the side, trying to assess it as a whole. Identify areas where you can reduce stress causing tension of the body and headache. In addition, protect yourself from certain foods, bright lights, alcohol, heavy physical exertion, stress, major changes in your life, sleep problems. Thus, it is possible to reduce the probability of occurrence of headaches, stress, tension.
o Drink plenty of cold water.
o Go into a dark and quiet room and concentrate on your breathing while massaging his forehead.
o Sleep with a cold towel on his forehead.
o After taking painkillers, lie down on your side on the bed or on the couch. So you had better bear the time until the analgesic to act. Try to make sure that at hand was always in a glass of water, and the room should be free of screens (television, computer). Turn off the lights, close your eyes, breathe deeply and relax. This method works much better when you use comfortable and loose clothing. However, this method is not effective for everyone.
o Massage the area of the palm between the thumb and index finger. Effect on nerve endings at this point stimulates constriction of blood vessels in the head.
o Drink plenty of water. Very often, dehydration causes headaches.
o Replace coffee with tea.
o Rest in a dark room where you can hear only natural sounds.
Cautions:
o Immediately contact your doctor if you observe the following symptoms:o Severe headache, which you never had to face before;
o Headache quickly changes its character (dull becomes sharp);
o Sudden or unusual headache;
o Headache is getting stronger every day and does not pass;
o The combination of headache, neck pain and fever (signs of meningitis);
o Seizures, convulsions, vomiting, intolerance of bright light, rashes, weakness, personality changes.
o Some medications can cause headaches, for example, birth control pills. Don't forget to consult with your doctor about whether medications can cause headaches. Often, pain in the head are either a side effect or a signal that you need to pay attention on the overall health.
o Be serious about head injuries. For any head injury you should see a doctor, even if you are not experiencing symptoms of concussion or no pain.
o Be careful with painkillers, without prescription. For example, an overdose of tylenol (acetaminophen) is toxic to the liver. Do not take more than two tablets in every 6 hours. Also combination of tylenol and alcohol has a negative impact on the liver. Always read the instructions to any analgesic and stick to the specified dosage.
o Try not to resort to home treatment. Often it only gets worse. Therefore, it is important to consult with your doctor. If headache increases or there are new symptoms, you should immediately contact the hospital.
o Do not take NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), if you have ulcers, stomach problems or bowel, and asthma.
Use quick links to navigate to the desired information:
o Quick ways to relieve headaches
o Prevention of migraine
o Natural remedies for headaches
o Useful physical exercises for headache
o Change your lifestyle
o Types of headaches
o Advice and warnings for headache
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