How To Get Rid of a Headache

I have never heard of a person who has not had a headache at some point in their life. There are many causes of a headache and many symptoms as well. But one thing headaches have in common is pain somewhere in the head that makes it hard to concentrate and be productive in the day.

Causes of a Headache

Common causes can include:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Allergies
• Muscle tension
• Bad or inappropriate diet
• Trigger foods - such as coffee or wine
• Smoking
• Drugs
• Irritants like strong-smelling perfumes or pollution

Tension headaches are very common nowadays in our busy world, and the ironic thing is that they may just be telling us to slow down or change our ways in life.

Because there are so many different variables that could cause a headache you may want to keep a journal of what you do during the day and night, including what you eat, and see if you find a common theme or trigger that is causing your headaches. It may be lack of sleep, too much stress, or smoking.

For example, if you find in your journal that you always get a headache when your mother-in-law walks in the door then you may need to change the way you feel about her or handle her presence. If you find that after smoking too much you always get a headache then you may want to quit smoking. Always try to treat the cause of the headache and not the symptom.

Of course constant headaches may be a sign of a health problem. If you are having constant headaches then you should head to your doctor to check for a reason why.

Besides removing the stressors or triggers that cause the headache there are certain things you can do to help get rid of the headache during the time that it occurs.

Various Methods to Help Get Rid of a Headache

Besides popping a Tylenol for a headache, there are tons of different things you can do to relieve the pain. I find that certain things work for me while other things don't. Find what works best for you and use it! Following are some of the most popular ways to get rid of a headache fast.

Drink a Glass of Water- Sometimes headaches can be caused by dehydration. In fact, this is often the case. If you drink a big glass of water and keep yourself hydrated you will find that your headache will disappear quickly.

Take Deep Breaths- A lack of oxygen can cause headaches, so deep breaths can replenish that oxygen. Deep breaths can also help lower tension and stress that may also be causing or adding to the headache.

Make a Natural Relief Rub- You can make a salve from ginger, peppermint oil, and wintergreen oil and rub it on the nape of your neck or temples to help relieve tensions headaches. You can also rub it across the sinus area for sinus headaches.

Relax Your Body- If you have the opportunity to lie down and rest, then make sure to relax your body first. This can help with the muscle tension and ease you into sleep more quickly because you will not be concentrating on the pain of the headache.

Start by relaxing your toes. Make sure the feel at ease and comfortable. Then move on to your foot, then your ankle, then your calves, and so on and so forth until you get to the tip of your head. By that time you should be very relaxed and feel better.

Remember that moving around is okay while doing this. You want to make sure you feel completely comfortable and relaxed.

Take a Bath- Hot water can help you relax and ease your headache and tension in your body. You can also take a hot shower if that feels better.

Sleep- Sleep is a time of rejuvenation, and if you turn off your conscious brain for a while sleep can allow you to de-stress, relax, rejuvenate, and most important - help you get rid of a headache. Even a nap can help your body repair and recover.