Beyond The Painkillers: Home Remedies To Manage Different Types of Headaches
Beyond The Painkillers: Home Remedies To Manage Different Types of Headaches
Almost everyone, if not all, is a victim of this throbbing disturbance that occurs in the head.
Yeah, headache is a relative symptom that you must have experienced one time or the other.
If you have never experienced it, then you must be God’s favorite.
Most times, headache is a normal psychological response (no cause for alarm) and sometimes it might be a symptom of more serious disease conditions that require urgent medical attention.
However, with modern medicine, most people have abused the use of over the counter painkillers, especially “paracetamol.” which shouldn't be.
In this article, we’ll explore what a headache is, as well as effective home remedies and lifestyle changes that can help you manage different types of headaches.
Why Do Headaches Happen?
Now, before we dive into why headaches happen, let’s examine what “headaches” actually mean. There are several definitions given to headache, based on an individual's perception of the pain.
But generally, a headache is a painful sensation or pressure felt in any part of the head and neck. It can be throbbing, pulsating, sharp or dull pain.
Headache can be triggered due to stress, physical injury, emotional and other poor lifestyle habits. It can also be hereditary.
They happen when these triggers cause irritation and overactivity in the nerves of the muscles and blood vessels that surround your head, neck and face.
However, this shouldn't cause any serious concern as they tend to disappear on their own within minutes to a few days. This type is known as —primary headache.
Although, it can also happen as a symptom of a serious underlying medical condition, which should be given urgent medical attention. This type is known as — secondary headache.
There are other types of headache based on cause, location and intensity of the pain.
How to Identify The Different Types of Headaches
The other types of headache include:
1. Tension Headache
It is the most common type of headache characterized by mild to moderate dull, aching pain.It is felt as a tight band or pressure around the head (like two metals squeezing your skull).
They can happen as a result of muscle tension, inadequate sleep, poor posture and stress.
They are the primary type of headache and are not associated with other neurological symptoms.
2. Cluster Headache
Cluster headaches are rare and described as an excruciating stabbing or burning sensation on one side of the head, usually focused around one eye and can radiate to the temple, forehead and cheek.
The pain can last from 15 minutes to 3 hours and is sometimes accompanied by symptoms like redness, tearing of the eye, drooping eyelid, nasal congestion and facial sweating.
They happen suddenly and at the same time of the day or night in clusters or cycles.
The exact cause is unknown but may be due to sudden release of histamine or serotonin in the body, alcoholism or smoking.
3. Migraine Headache
Migraine is characterized by recurrent episodes of moderate to severe, throbbing and pounding headaches usually on one side of the head which can last for hours to days.
It can sometimes be accompanied with symptoms like nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound and it gets worse during physical activity.
It can be caused by hormonal changes that occur during menstrual periods, pregnancy and perimenopause. Other triggers include certain medications, alcohol especially red wine, and too much caffeine.
4. Thunderclap Headache
A thunderclap headache is a severe and extremely painful type that happens suddenly and reaches its peak intensity within 60 seconds to minutes.
This type is uncommon but they can sometimes happen as a sign of serious underlying conditions.
Some disorders such as bleeding in the brain, high blood pressure, blood vessel disorders and certain infections, which require urgent medical attention.
5. Medication Overuse Headache
This is also known as “rebound headache”. It occurs when you often use medications to relieve your head pain.
The truth is, the frequent use of these drugs results in reactions in the brain and causes more episodes of headache.
Some of these drugs include over the counter pain relief drugs like (aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol) opioids, barbiturates and some triptans used in treatment of migraine headaches.
6. Hypnic Headache
It is also known as “alarm clock headache” that happens mostly in the elderly.
They are described as dull, throbbing, pulsating or stabbing pain that affect both sides of the head. They last for about 15 minutes to a few hours.
This is a rare type of primary headache that occurs during sleep, usually around the same time each night which wakes you up from sleep or early in the morning.
7. Sinus Headaches
This type is mostly associated with nasal congestion and inflammation.
It occurs when the sinus passages in the head and face are blocked, leading to pain.
It is characterized by pain in the forehead, cheeks, or the bridge of the nose, feeling of pressure or fullness in your face, facial pain and runny nose.
Note: There may be a confusion in diagnosis, because not all headaches associated with sinus symptoms are true sinus headaches, many people with migraine headache and tension headaches also experience facial pain and congestion.
8. Exertion Headaches
This type is also known as “exercise induced headaches”.
It occurs during or after strenuous physical activity such as straining on the toilet, heavy weight lifting, high intensity exercise, coughing, sneezing or sexual intercourse.
They are characterized by sudden, throbbing, and intense pain with explosive or bursting sensation.
This happens due to increase in blood flow and pressure in the blood vessels of the head during exercise.
It can also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as high blood pressure or a bleeding disorder.
9. Post Traumatic Headaches
This is a secondary type of headache that occurs within 7 days after a person has regained consciousness from traumatic brain injury (TBI).
This type may have features similar to that of tension headache and migraine or combination of both.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes Used in The Management of Different Types of Headaches
For effective headache management, the combination of home remedies and certain lifestyle changes is crucial.
Some general strategies that can help with headaches include the following:
1. Good Hydration
When you are dehydrated you tend to feel irritable and weak, this might lead to headaches.
Therefore, always make sure you drink enough water. As it helps increase blood flow to the head and other parts of the body.
You can monitor your daily water intake by getting a 2-3 liters bottle or downloading certain apps on your phone that reminds you to take water.
2. Stress Management
One of the leading causes of headache is poor stress management.
When you are stressed, your body gets weak which can indirectly bring about pressure in the head.
It is quite understandable that everyday hassle at work or probably household chores and family matters can make you stressed.
However, always make sure to pen down your worries and create effective strategies you can use in reducing your daily stress.
Want to know more about the tips you can use in managing your stress effectively. Read more here.
3. Regular Sleep
If you are the type that often deprives yourself of adequate sleep, you are bound to get stressed and have constant headaches.
The normal sleep time per night is 7-9 hours. Anything less than this is not sufficient enough and can in turn lead to headache.
Therefore, make sure you have sufficient night sleep in order to have a bright and healthy body during the day.
4. Dietary Adjustment
Certain foods that can trigger headaches include processed foods, artificial sweeteners and foods containing tyramine, nitrates and sulfites.
You can consider taking supplements like magnesium or magnesium rich foods such as nuts, seeds and leafy greens. Also, vitamin B-complexes like riboflavin, folate and pyridoxine also help for migraine.
Avoid skipping meals as low blood sugar can make you weak and induce headache.
Reduce your alcohol and caffeine intake as too much of both can cause headache.
5. Regular Exercise
Did you know? When you sit or stay in a particular position for too long, you can have headaches and general body weakness.
Therefore, avoid living a sedentary lifestyle, which might not only cause headaches but also lead to other chronic and life threatening diseases.
Try opting for moderate exercise whether at home or at the gym, this helps increase your blood flow and heart rate which relieves you of unnecessary fatigue and stress.
You can also try out yoga, breathing exercises, and relaxation stretching and techniques.
6. Eye Care
One of the behavioral causes of headache, in this globalization age is excessive screen time.
When you spend too much time pressing your phone, laptop, watching TV and video games, this lifestyle strains your eye and consequently causes headache.
Therefore, take a U-turn from this bad habit by reducing your screen time by any means possible.
7. Cold Compress
Yeah it works! Especially if it's a migraine or tension type of headache.
When you get that banging ache in your head, rest your body, get a bag of frozen food items wrapped in a cloth and place it on the location of the ache, for about every 15-20 minutes. You can as well use an ice pack or a cold wet cloth.
The cold compress works by constricting the blood vessels in the head, which can help reduce inflammation and ease the pain associated with headaches.
8. Aromatherapy
Try essential oils!
Certain essential oils work miracles and wonders when it comes to giving relaxation.
Aromatherapy involves inhaling nice and suiting fragrance of herbal products and essential oils.
Examples of these particular essential oils include lavender, peppermint, rosemary, chamomile and eucalyptus.
(eucalyptus oil works specially for sinus headaches, by helping to open nasal passages).
They give soothing and calming effects by helping to reduce stress and induce sleep. They can be used in diffusers, perfumes, sprays and even body oils.
9. Acupuncture
Old school but effective.
This is a traditional Chinese method which involves using pins or needles to apply pressure on specific points on the body.
They are highly effective in treatment of different body pain and headaches.
However, it must be carried out by a professional that knows how to go about it.
10. Try Herbal Remedy
Works like magic!
Just like essential oils, there are certain herbs that help the body relax and induce sleep which indirectly relieves your headache.
Some examples of these herbal teas and supplements include curcumin, chamomile and ginger tea.
Try taking chamomile tea a few minutes before bed and wake up the next day feeling like an avatar. Thank me later!
11. Take a Warm Bath
After a long hectic day, all you want to do is bounce into that bed and have a sound sleep.
Instead, you should try having a lukewarm shower and sleep with very light clothes on or nothing at all. Then you can sleep like a beautiful bouncing baby.
Having a warm bath helps in dilating your blood vessels and allows efficient blood circulation which in turn makes you feel relaxed.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, when you desist from certain poor lifestyle habits and incorporate good ones, then you will be free from constant headaches.
Also, remember we are created differently and what worked for your next door neighbor might not work for you, so find the best remedy that suits you.
However, if the headache is accompanied by other symptoms and hinders you from performing your daily activities make sure to see a medical practitioner.
See you in the next blog post.
Stay healthy!