Headaches affect 9 out of 10 people and can be caused by emotional factors, stress, fasting, caffeine excess, medication, and climate change. To ease the discomfort, try natural remedies first. And start with the healthiest and simplest thing: physical activity. It is a widespread disease, able to affect an entire day, which is why at the San Raffaele Pisana in Rome, they are studying a real vaccine for chronic migraines. And after long experimentation was done on 50 patients, and given the results, the researchers promise that the related drug will soon be available. Even if they don’t override the cost, it will likely be high. Here we will give you a complete guide about how to get rid of headaches?
Along with stomach pain and back pain, headache is undoubtedly one of the most common ailments among the population. There are hundreds of headaches, essentially distinguished based on the localization of the pain and its intensity. The cyclical nature of the disorder and the way it manifests itself. Given the heterogeneity of the headache, it is often difficult to immediately trace the triggering cause. In some women, the headache recurs punctually once a month near the menstrual cycle. In these cases, the most obvious explanation for the headache is found in the period’s hormonal variation.
Other times, however, the headache continually pounds the head, so much so that not even the classic analgesics seem to be of benefit. In these cases, the headache can have resulted in pathological. In fact, some diseases can start with this disorder: AIDS, anaphylaxis, atherosclerosis, shingles, stroke, flu, hypertension, leukemia, meningitis, mononucleosis, premenstrual syndrome, sinusitis, chickenpox.
Headache Natural Remedies
The best of these is definitely physical activity, which, according to the Neurological Association for Headache Research, is an excellent form of prevention to combat headaches, the most common, due to stress or just bad habits. In particular, sports such as cycling, swimming or pilates gymnastics are very suitable. But yoga and a simple brisk walk are also considered useful. The reason for this good result anti sore of the head is pretty simple scientifically: physical activity improves breathing, the circulation of blood and oxygen, and reduces cerebral vasodilation—all common causes of migraines.
Types of Headache
In particular, three types of primary headaches are distinguished: migraine, tension headache, and cluster headache.
- The ‘ Migraine is characterized by attacks that can last for a few hours as well as a few days. It consists of acute attacks to half of the skull and is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, excessive sensitivity to light,t, and noise. It is a disorder that often appears in adolescence and can have a hereditary component.
- The tension headache instead generally strikes during adulthood. It is not hereditary and can last for weeks, months, and even years. Compared to migraines, in this case, the pain is more widespread as it affects the whole head, and despite everything, it does not interfere with daily activities’ performance. It can be caused by strong tensions, stress, and nervousness, and most of the time, it is accompanied by states of anxiety and depression.
- Then there is the cluster headache, which manifests itself through intense pain attacks localized to the orbit and temple. It may be accompanied by tearing and redness of the eyes and swelling of the eyelid corresponding to the side of the pain. The duration of the attacks is short, but their intensity is so strong that it also provokes extreme gestures in the sufferer, such as breaking a hand or breaking objects.
- Another variant is then the chronic headache, in which symptoms and pain intensity vary from patient to patient.
Causes Of Headache
In most cases, the attacks are based on emotional factors, stress, fasting, drugs. Even the relaxation of holidays after a week of intense work can cause headaches: the so-called weekend migraine.
But some foods or some substances contained in them can also play their part. Among those that can induce the most headaches in some people is the monosodium glutamate in cooking nuts, the nitrites present in sausages, alcohol, chocolate, soy, and fermented and aged cheeses. But climate change, excess caffeine, and some essences used to prepare perfumes also affect headaches.
Responsibility for the environment
Numerous environmental factors can trigger or aggravate headache attacks in predisposed individuals. If you have a “sensitive” nose and ears, try to avoid too intense noises and smells. The deafening din, a high and prolonged sound, a particularly intense perfume, pungent aromas, and fragrances can trigger a headache. A similar effect can be
caused by too strong light, especially when staring at it for a long time. With altitude, the air becomes thinner and can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea. To avoid this unpleasant high-altitude effect, it is enough to climb gradually and often stop along the way to allow the body to adapt a little at a time to the change in altitude.
The pressurization of aircraft cabins and the often destabilizing effects of changing time zones are two other factors that can trigger headaches, insomnia, and lightheadedness. When traveling by plane, especially for distant destinations, try to sleep for at least a few hours during the journey and not get excessively heavy with food before and during the flight. Among the environmental factors that most affect the onset of headaches, we find the climate and air pollution.
Nutrition
Some foods contain substances that initiate a neurovascular mechanism that triggers headaches. These include stock cubes, oriental foods containing sodium glutamate, fried or preserved foods, chicken livers, aged cheeses, hot dogs, sardines, pickled herring, tuna, game, spirits, oranges, walnuts, hazelnuts, wine red, chocolate, preserved or bagged products (if they contain nitrates and nitrites).
Some foods with particularly complex digestion(for example, chocolate, sausages, aged cheeses, dried fruit, fried foods, and coffee) have a real vasodilating effect, which is why they favor the onset of headache. If you want to clarify how to get rid of headaches, you need to know about nutrition. These foods can alter nervous control, with the possibility that the arteries of the skull dilate and narrow under certain stimuli and therefore produce pain.
Even fasting and diets that are too drastic cause an alteration in the sugar level, leading to headaches. Excessive alcohol consumption, in particular red wine (more full-bodied), can cause headaches, not only after a heavy drink: for many people, in fact, it is enough to take even a minimum amount of alcohol to feel dizziness and malaise.
Also Read: How To Get Vitamin D
How to get rid of headaches: What to do
- Taking pain medication and going to bed: Many people find that headache symptoms become much milder and more subdued after a good night’s sleep. However, it is recommended not to sleep too much
- Taking part in a sporting activity even during a headache is valid advice to help fight the disorder. However, it is recommended to avoid sports when the headache is very severe
- According to some sources, the headache goes away more quickly when you sleep on your stomach ( supine position ). Sleeping in an uncomfortable position or on your stomach can sometimes promote the contraction of the muscles in the neck, thus negatively affecting the headache
- Hot/cold: some people benefit from the action of cold-applied directly to the head, while others use hot showers or hot water bottles applied directly to the nape of the neck
- Do-it-yourself self-massage and acupressure. Two key points to help relieve headaches are:
- Repeat several times
- The area immediately below the bony protrusions of the nape: apply gentle pressure with your thumbs in this area
- Turn off the light: Very bright lights, fluorescent lamps, and light sources can trigger or worsen a headache. For this reason, when you leave the house, it is advisable always to wear sunglasses (especially in summer)
- Always have dinner and lunch at the same time
- Smiling: a good mood is a natural medicine that relieves pain
How to get rid of headaches: What NOT to do
- Taking painkillers in exaggerated quantities, in the mistaken belief that the headache can only go away when fought with high doses of the drug
- Daily naps: Although a short nap can ease the headache, it is advisable to avoid frequent naps. Such behavior can, in fact, favor the onset of headaches
- Assuming incorrect postures during work: to avoid stiffening the neck muscles, and therefore avoiding headaches. It is advisable to assume a correct upright position and sit with your head held high. Especially for office work.
- Beware of body tension: Many patients complain of headaches when they are particularly tense. The warning signs are clenched teeth (bruxism), tight shoulders, and clenched fists.
- Perfumed spray essences: perfumes, especially strong ones, can induce headaches and migraines in particularly sensitive subjects
- Beware of sexual activity: Individuals prone to migraines often experience headaches during sexual activity.
- Loud noises: Loud noise is a common trigger for headaches
- Continuously chewing gum: this habit can stiffen the chewing muscles, favoring the onset of headache.
- Smoking while driving: given that smoking is not a good habit. Even more so, you should help if ld avoided while driving, even worse when the windows are open. In doing so, you risk taking a double dose of carbon monoxide, a risk factor for headaches.
- Beware of too high altitudes: high altitude can favor the onset of headaches.
How to get rid of headaches: What to eat
- Consume lots of fruits and vegetables, as they are rich in antioxidants (vitamin C and E)
- Good coffee: Many people find that drinking a strong coffee is an amazing remedy for headaches. It is recommended to drink coffee as soon as symptoms begin. Do not overdo the cups of coffee.
- Eat cold foods very slowly: ice creams and popsicles can somehow promote headaches because the palate suffers a sudden chill.
- Drink plenty of water to prevent hangover headaches.
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How to get rid of headaches: What NOT to Eat
- Avoid the consumption of foods that are difficult to digest, such as dips, fries, and foods rich in fat
- Wine, beer, and alcohol in general: alcohol abuse can cause the typical hangover headache
- Hypersalty foods: Some people complain of headache after a particularly salty meal
- Milk and derivatives: some people are susceptible to certain foods, even if they are not really allergic. The milk, for example, is a “dangerous” food as it promotes the onset of migraine headaches in many people
- Foods rich in nitrates (e.g., Meat, canned meats, fish marinated): these drugs dilate blood vessels, setting the stage for the headache
- Chocolate: people prone to headaches should limit their intake of chocolate, a food rich in tyramine (amine suspected in headaches)
- Aspartame ( sweetener )
- Nuts and nuts in general
Natural Cures and Remedies
- Cold packs: natural remedies indicated to counteract the symptoms of stress headaches. It is sufficient to soak a sterile gauze in cold water – possibly enriched with aromas – and apply it on the head (until it warms up to the same body temperature ) to help fight headaches
- Foods rich in vitamin C
- Relaxing herbal teas based on lemon balm, valerian, chamomile: indicated to induce relaxation, these natural remedies can indirectly remove stress headaches
How to get rid of headaches: Pharmacological treatment
- NSAIDs ( non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ):
- Ibuprofen(e.g., Brufen, Moment, Subitene)
- Acetaminophen or Paracetamol (e.g., Tachipirina, Efferalgan, Sanipirina):
- Acetylsalicylic acid (e.g., Aspirin, salicin, Vivin C, Ascriptin )
- Naproxen ( Aleve, Naprosyn, Prexan, Marius)
- Ergotamine (e.g., Cafergot, Virdex): indicated for disabling forms of headache (acute migraine)
- Isometeptene (e.g., Octinum): powerful vasoconstrictor used as an alternative therapy to treat very severe headaches (migraines).
Prevention
- Sport is an ideal “medicine” for preventing headaches: sporting activity helps to relieve stress and consequently can prevent the onset of headaches
- Follow a healthy and balanced diet, trying to avoid (without eliminating) the most “risky” foods for headaches
- No to binges
- Ensure regular rest for the body: avoid sleeping too much or too little
- Yoga, pilates, or other relaxing activities are great tactics to prevent stress headaches
- Do not abuse anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers: people who take these drugs for 3 days or more a week are at high risk of the headache coming back more often (rebound effect)
- Don’t skip meals: Fasting, for example, is a major factor in headaches
Medical treatments
- The common headache does not require specific medical treatments: a little rest, a painkiller, and a good sleep are usually enough to make the pain go away
- Different speech for pathological headaches, for example, dependent on metabolic disorders or tumors. In these cases, it is necessary to intervene directly at the root of the disorder: the common NSAIDs can only temporarily block the pain without, however, rising completely decisive.
- Alternative remedies: Some people benefit from acupuncture to treat or reduce headache symptoms.
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