Headache is any unnatural or painful sensation felt by a person in any part of their head. The cause for headache is many and does not happen in relation to any specific disease. Since headaches can occur at any time without any prior notice, there are many people who prefer to have home remedies for headaches as a solution rather than taking any prescribed pills or medicines suggested by the doctor. This section, therefore, deals in details about everything an individual needs to know about headaches, its causes, types and home remedies for its.
Table of Contents
What are the causes of Headache?
The head is the most common and usual part of the body where a person feels a sensation of pain. Hence, one of the most common medical problems is a headache. A headache can occur to any person irrespective of age and gender. In order to chalk out the various headache relief tricks, it is first important to know the cause of the headache.
This is for the reason that headache could be for various reasons. It could occur due to various reasons. It could be minor as stress or tension to serious conditions as brain tumors, blood clots, glaucoma, and others.
Hence some of the various causes of headaches are:
- Bright or flashy lights.
- Consumption of Alcohol.
- Strong smell.
- Side effects of certain prescribed medications.
- Hunger
- Fatigue
- Excessive stress.
- Anxiety
- Improper sleep.
- Changes in the weather.
- Certain food products like processed foods, cheese, pork, nuts, sour cream, peanut butter, yogurt, etc.
- Dehydration
- Change in hormones.
- Lack of exercise.
- Strain in the eyes.
- Strenuous exercises such as jumping, running, weight lifting, etc.
- Sexual Intercourse.
What are the types of Headache?
Before a person lists down the various home remedies for headache, they must first have a clear understanding on the various types of headaches that can occur, how to identify them with their symptoms and the causes of the same. Hence, the various types of headache are:
Primary Headaches
There are certain kinds of headaches that are not caused as an underlying effect of any other diseases or conditions. These are ‘stand-alone’ headaches and are caused if there is any problem with the pain-sensitive areas of the head. In other words, primary headaches are those where the headaches are the condition itself. Some of the various types of Primary Headaches are:
Migrane Headache
In Migraine headaches, an individual tends to feel a throbbing or pounding pain on one side of their head. Along with this, they also have other symptoms like sensitivity to sound light, smell, vomiting, nausea, and feeling of dizziness, upset stomach, blurred vision and loss of hunger amongst others. A pain of a migraine can last from 3 to 4 hours to 3 to 4 days. An individual suffering from migraine headaches must watch out for the things that tend to trigger it. Some of these things are improper sleep and meals, dehydration, anxiety and stress, certain medication and foods, loud lights and noise.
Tension Headaches
This is the most common type of primary headaches that an individual suffers from. In Tension headaches, a person tends to feel a dull pain on all the sides of the head. The pain can gradually spread to the neck. These headaches are informed to start slowly and gradually increase with passing time. The tension headaches occur more in females than males. Some of the things that trigger tension headaches are eye strain, loud noise, lack of proper exercise, improper and skipped meals, improper sleep, etc.
Cluster Headaches
In the Cluster headaches, the patient feels an intense piercing or burning pain typing around one eye. The cluster headaches can last up to 3 hours and can happen up to eight times a day without any pre-warning. The attack generally happens at the same time of the day. It is reported to occur more in men than in women. Some of the common triggers of cluster headaches are tension, stress, anxiety amongst others.
Thunderclap Headaches
The thunderclap headaches are severe headaches that are said to occur suddenly. They start suddenly and picks up pace quickly making it almost unbearable. This kind of headaches lasts longer than 5 to 6 minutes and is described as the worst headaches. Some of the reasons for these headaches to occur are any tear or rupture of a blood vessel, head injury, change in blood pressure, inflamed blood vessel, and blocked blood vessels amongst others.
Exertional Headache
There are certain physical exercises which can be strenuous and can trigger a headache if done extensively. Some of these exercises are weight lifting, jumping, sexual intercourse, coughing or sneezing extensively and running amongst others. The sensation of pain in exertional headache is felt throughout the head. These kinds of headaches do not last for a long time. It stays up to a maximum of 2 days.
Secondary Headaches
Secondary headaches are the kind of headaches that occurs as an underlying effect of some other condition or diseases. This other condition tends to trigger the nerves on the head that are pain-sensitive thereby causing a headache. Some of the factors due to which secondary headaches can occur are glaucoma, dehydration, influenza, brain tumor, ice-cream headaches, consumption of alcohol, blood clots, and stroke and panic attacks. Some of the various types of Secondary Headaches are:
Sinus Headaches
In Sinus headaches, the individual feels a sensation of pain on their forehead, nose, and cheekbones. Some other symptoms of this headache include a swollen face, running nose and fever amongst others. The sinus headaches natural occur as a result of Sinus infection.
Caffeine Headaches
Consumption of a heavy amount of caffeine is said to trigger secondary headaches in a person. This happens when a person who consumes more than 4 cups or 400gms of coffee starts to withdraw from doing it abruptly. This type of headache generally stops after the person intakes caffeine. Some other things that follow the headache are irritability and bad mood, a problem in concentrating, nausea, and feeling of tiredness amongst others.
Menstrual or Hormonal Headaches
A lot of women can feel a headache during or just before the start of menstruation. This happens because of a sudden change in the level of estrogen levels and hormones. The sensation of pain in menstrual hormones is similar to that of migraine headaches. These headaches can also happen in times if menopause and pregnancy.
Hangover Headaches
People consuming too much alcohol can feel a throbbing sensation of pain on both sides of their heads. This pain is usually felt on the next morning of consumption of the alcohol or later the same day of consumption. People can also be sensitive to light during this period. Some of the tips to take these headaches down are eating foods that contain sugar, drinking water amongst others.
Home Remedies for Headache
Headaches are the most common kind of pain that can happen to a person. The worst thing about the headache is that it can happen to anyone, at any time, without any prior notice. The headaches are long-lasting and strong enough to ruin the day without letting the person concentrate on anything. Hence, there are many people who want to find effective home remedies for a headache rather than going for prescribed pills suggested by the doctors.
While some of the home remedies for headaches can bring an instant and quick solutions to the throbbing sensation of pain, other home remedies for headaches can gradually help lessen the pain or serve to keep the headaches away. Therefore, some home remedies for headaches are:
Drink adequate amount of Water
One of the prime reasons for having a headache is dehydration. What follows next is irritability and losing concentration making it all the ore worse. Hence, drinking the required amount of water and foods rich in water to keep the body hydrated has often led to stopping the headache or relieved them to a large extent.
Getting Proper Sleep
It is important to ensure that the body gets the required amount of sleep. Improper amount of sleeping, that is, more and less than the required amount of time are known for triggering headaches. A young adult should give their body complete rest for at least 7 to 9 hours a day. Any time more or less than this is known to trigger headaches.
Having a Proper Diet
There are certain foods that might trigger headaches in certain people. Hence, it is better to identify and avoid these foods to prevent a headache. Some of the most common foods that trigger a headache are chocolate, cheese, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, and citrus foods amongst others.
Acupressure
Acupressure is a process that involves putting pressure in certain parts of the body. These areas are also referred to as pressure points. Putting an adequate amount of pressure in these pressure points relieves the headache to at great extent by releasing tension. It also prevents further headaches from taking place.
Managing Stress
Stress is a reason that is known for triggering headaches. Hence, a person must look for measures to make sure that they remain stress-free. Some of the things that an individual can practice to avoid stress are having proper meditation and exercise, taking stress management classes, yoga, journaling, listening to soft music, taking a warm bath, etc.
Stretching and Yoga
Yoga has always been effective in releasing stress from the body. Along with this, practicing yoga helps release the tension of the body by increasing the blood flow. It also has other benefits such as it increases flexibility, decreases pain amongst others. Therefore, people having migraine attacks and other types of headaches are suggested to practice yoga regularly.
Consume Coffee and Tea
Tea, soda, coffee and other foods that contain a good amount of caffeine can help ease the pain. Hence, the consumption of caffeine in the required quantity can keep the unnatural headaches away. However, the consumption level must be checked. This is for the fact that consuming too much caffeine can have its own kind of headache if they are left or stopped abruptly.
Regular Exercise
Regular exercise is one of the best ways to ensure that the body is kept stress free. People who engage in regular physical activities are said to have better blood circulation and overall healthy body than the people who don’t. Hence, regular exercise ensures to keep the headaches away. A person can start with simple exercises like walking more steps or taking the stairs etc.
Limit intake of Alcohol
Taking alcohol more than the required amount can trigger a headache, which is generally known as a hangover. It also makes the person urinate frequently. These, in turn, make them lose a lot of fluids from the body leading to dehydration. The headaches thus triggered are painful and can stay for even a period of 3 days. Hence, individuals who are prone to headaches should stay away from consuming alcohol.
Stay in a dim area
People who are prone to headaches can get one if they stay in excessive bright light. This is for the fact that excessive bright lights in homes, offices, streets, computers and mobile phones are known to trigger headaches. Hence, these people must stay in areas with dim lights to ensure they do not get an attack.
Some other headache relief tricks are:
- Avoid foods that are high in Histamine
- Use essential oils like peppermint oil, lavender oil, amongst others.
- Consume ginger
- Trying Acupuncture
- Staying away from strong smells
- Gong for herbal remedies.
- Taking Magnesium
- Going for massages
- Taking hot and cold packs
- Avoiding chewing gums
- Taking medicines correctly
- Taking Vitamin E
- Avoid things that make you stress
Home Remedies for headache are proved to give more relief to the people suffering from headaches than going for prescribed medications by the doctors. It, therefore, serves as a more permanent solution to the painful headaches and thus helps to keep them away. Following these basic things in the day to day life does not only help keep a check on the headaches but also ensures to help one lead a healthy life.
