At Home Headache Remedies

A headache has the ability to ruin your day, even if you’re at home social distancing. If you have chronic headaches, they can make doing anything unbearable. While diagnosing headaches can be challenging, they’re most often caused by tension, stress, lifestyle habits, and sensory triggers. In these stressful times, you could be experiencing more headaches. Try these at home remedies for headaches, and if you need more help ask us about our telemedicine services for medical pain management. 

Headache Types

Unfortunately, there are many types of headaches which is why it can be difficult to determine the cause. Common headaches can include:

Migraines

Often the most painful headache, migraines can affect your sensitivity to light, smell, and more. Migraines can also be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. For some people, an aura happens before a migraine begins, which means they see visual changes (like wavy lines). If you have had a migraine, there is a good chance they will be reoccur. Whether it be every couple months or once a year, each migraine that happens is painful. If you suffer from migraines, keep a log of what your triggers could be. Think: hormones, not getting enough sleep, caffeine, medicine, or more. Keeping a log of what your day included before the onset of a migraine can help, in some instances, narrow down the cause. 

Tension headaches 

Most people will experience tension headaches. This type of headache is characterized by having dull, persistent pain on both sides of the head. It’s also common to feel some pressure behind the eyes with a tension headache as well. Stress and anxiety are the most common cause of tension headaches. 

Exertional headaches 

This throbbing headache is one that is brought on by physical activity, like running, jumping, lifting weights, or more. These tend to be shorter in nature, and simply taking an over the counter medication will be enough to kick it to the curb. 

Cluster headaches

If you have cluster headaches they can be severe and reoccur often. Most people will feel a burning sensation behind one eye, and they happen fairly suddenly. Medical News Today reports that cluster headaches can last anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours, and that people with cluster headaches can have upwards of eight attacks a day.

Causes of Headaches

Headaches can be brought on by many different causes, like the foods we eat, our exercise routines, medications we take, sinus issues, or just genetics. If you have frequent, recurring headaches, talk with your doctor to rule out serious health problems. 

At Home Remedies for Headaches

If you’re stuck at home with a headache, there are some natural remedies you can try to ease the pain. WebMD offers these 10 ways to get rid of a headache at home:

1.Try cold therapy 

Put an ice pack on your forehead for 15 minutes, then take it off for 15 minutes. Switch back and forth until the pain is relieved. If you don’t have a cold pack, a cold shower could help with the pain too. 

2.Use heat

Tension headaches can sometimes be relieved by placeing a heating pad on your neck or back of the head. For sinus-based headaches, place a warm cloth over your sinuses to help with pain relief. 

3.Ease pressure on your scalp

If you wear your hair in a ponytail, that could be what’s causing your headache. Remove the ponytail to relieve the pain. Additionally, it could be a hat, headband, or glasses causing the pain too. Remove all pressure from your scalp and head to try and relieve the pain. 

4.Dim the lights

Headaches can bring sensitivity to light. Put your phone and computer away and sit in a dark room to help provide relief from your headache. 

5.Relieve jaw pressure

Chewing gum can bring on a headache, which means chewing on anything could be what’s causing your headache. If you have a headache, give your mouth a rest. If you grind your teeth at night, consider getting a mouthguard. 

6.Drink caffeine

Sometimes caffeine can trigger headaches, but sometimes it can help get rid of them. If you feel a headache coming on, try drinking tea or coffee to fight a headache before it starts. 

7.Relax and get some sleep

Stress can bring on headaches. If you feel head pain coming on, try gently stretching, mediating, or taking a nap to relax and relieve the pain. 

8.Give yourself a massage

Gently massage your temples and shoulders to relieve pressure, which can be contributing to your pain. 

9.Try ginger

Ginger has been shown to help with migraines and other types of head pain. Try adding it to your tea. 

10.Over the counter medications

If none of the natural remedies above help, try taking over the counter medications in moderation. Talk with your doctor about what would be best for you.

Make an Appointment with Interventional Pain Associates

If your headaches aren’t going away at home, Interventional Pain Associates can help. Additionally, you should seek help if your headaches:

• Change in patterns, frequency, or intensity
• Get worse with coughing or movement
• Are accompanied by fever, visual disturbances, stiff neck, numbness, or slurred speech
• Come on suddenly

Interventional Pain Associates offers a number of treatment options to help you find relief from your headache. From physical therapy, to interventional procedures and alternative treatments, get help now! Request an appointment now.