10 Natural Remedies To Prevent and Treat Headaches
Elizabeth Loder, MD, MPH, chief of Brigham and Women's Hospital's headache and pain division and past president of the American Headache Society, said headaches often indicate a need for rest.
Rest
1
Low blood sugar can cause aching or fuzzy feelings after not eating. Eating something healthy right away may stop the nagging feeling.
Frequent Meals
2
People prefer cold over heat for topical headache treatments, but Dr. Green said a steamy shower may be just what you need.
Hot Shower
3
Massage is one of the oldest and most effective headache treatments, Dr. Loder said. If you can afford it, self-massaging or professional massage may help. Some find scalp massagers helpful.
Get Massaged
4
Headaches are early signs of dehydration. Dr. Green advised drinking fluids throughout the day rather than just at meals or during exercise to stay hydrated.
Stay Hydrated
5
Determine if a medication causes headaches to feel better. Overusing headache medication may unintentionally worsen pain. Overuse of medications causes analgesic rebound headaches, drug-induced headaches, or medication misuse headaches.
Medications
6
"Be less stressed" isn't always helpful, but understanding stress's effects can. According to the NIH, stress and posture may cause tension headaches, also known as muscle contraction or stress headaches.
Manage Stress
7
While eyestrain doesn't usually cause bad headaches, Dr. Loder suggested that long computer sessions can increase the risk.
Take Computer Breaks
8
Migraine sufferers should bring fluids and a beach umbrella. We need more research to determine the exact relationship between sun exposure and headaches, but the CDC notes that heat exhaustion can cause headaches.
Careful in Sun
9
Dr. Green advised against vigorous exercise while suffering from a bad headache because an increased pulse may increase pressure or pounding. The NHIF calls this exertion headache. Regular exercise helps prevent headaches.