How to Get Rid of a Headache

Get Rid of Headaches

OTC pain relievers get rid of headaches, but overuse can worsen the problem. Tension headaches and mild migraines can usually be treated with OTC pain relievers. NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) are usually the first choice for headaches. If these fail, you may want to try a combination medication like Excedrin, which combines different NSAIDS with small amounts of caffeine. However, if you're popping pills more than three times a week you may begin experiencing "rebound headaches" (also called medication overuse headaches), which can be more painful and frequent than the headaches you were originally suffering.

Use coping strategies to ease headache pain. A quiet dark room and some rest work for most people. The use of heating pads or ice packs (a cool rag will suffice) is recommended for both tension headaches and migraines. Gently massaging the painful areas and focused breathing can also help. Or, you might try a hot relaxing shower or warm bath. A headache veteran, I find a dark place, turn on a fan, and drink a small cup of coffee (natural painkiller) to get rid of a headache.

Get rid of headaches through stress management. Stress is widely believed to be the most common trigger of tension headaches and is also thought to play a role in migraines and many other headache types. For most people, time management – planning, creating schedules, and identifying priorities – reduces stress and anxiety. Relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, focused breathing, massage therapy, and biofeedback can also help reduce stress and tension. Setting aside time for relaxation, fun, and laughter is also important. But sometimes stress can become so ingrained in our way of living and thinking that outside help such as therapy (specifically cognitive behavioral therapy) may be needed.

Healthy living could mean fewer headaches. The American Headache Society urges sufferers to practice "headache hygiene", which means living in a way that will reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches. Getting enough sleep and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule (even on weekends) is vitally important. Regular aerobic exercise – at least 40 minutes 3-4 days a week – is another part of headache hygiene. Lastly, you'll need to eat regular meals and follow a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, protein and carbohydrates.

Identify and avoid your headache triggers. If you've already taken a look at the left sidebar, you'll see that headaches have many potential triggers – and that list is by no means complete. As different people have different triggers, most medical sources urge sufferers to keep a headache journal or diary. What should you keep track of in this diary? The foods and liquids you've consumed and when, exercise, the date and time of headaches along with a description of the pain, any medication taken or coping strategies used and to what degree you found relief and so on. Using one of the many quality headache diary forms found online (National Headache Institute, American Headache Society) may make this task easier.

When to Visit the Doctor about your Headaches

Almost all headaches – around 95% - are classified as primary headaches. This means that they are not caused by any underlying illness or disease. Secondary headaches, on the other hand, are symptoms rather than conditions unto themselves. Secondary headaches can be caused by minor things like the flu, or very undesirable maladies like brain tumors, stroke, meningitis, encephalitis, an aneurysm… Generally, it is recommended that you go the doctor if you experience what you would call "the worst headache of your life", have symptoms like slurred speech, a stiff neck, dizziness or confusion, or trouble seeing, walking, or speaking. Having more frequent or severe headaches than usual also warrants a doctor's visit.

But you need not be near death to see a doctor. If your headaches cannot be managed with the home treatments and natural remedies found on this page, then you should seek professional help. Doctors prescribe a variety of effective medications that both treat and prevent all kinds of headaches. Chronic tension headaches (two or more debilitating headaches a week) are often treated with antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or muscle relaxants. Migraines are treated with prescription analgesics (pain relievers), antidepressants, anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, and a variety of other medications. Though taking medications often means a slightly lighter wallet and accepting and enduring certain side effects, there is no reason the hills and valleys of your life should be marred by headache pain.