A bad headache can
go a long way to completely wrecking your day. Talking to
people can be unbearable. You start to get cranky, not
wanting to work or play or do anything but sit in bed and maybe watch a
movie. What can you do about these demon headaches?
What causes them, and how can you make them go away?
Headaches can be divided into two categories: migraines and tension
headaches. Migraines are caused by the contraction of blood
vessels in the brain; this causes a buildup of pressure in the brain
and the resulting pain of a headache. A tension is caused by
constant muscle tension, usually in the neck, upper neck, and in the
back of the head. It's the constant pressure and tension in
these muscles that causes a tension headache.
It can be tough to
cure headaches, especially if you're experiencing a migraine
headache. Some drug manufacturers have released drugs set up
to cure headaches of this sort, with mixed results. Some
people who have great success with one particular drug while others
will get no relief at all. It's usually best to experiment
with different treatments and dosages to see what works best for you,
and it pays to consider talking to your doctor for a prescription
headache medicine as well.
Fortunately, it's easier to cure headaches stemming from tension, as it
usually just involves reducing the amount of tension in the upper
neck. Massaging your own neck is often one of the quickest
cures, as is resting your neck if it's usually under stress.
Try rolling your head forward slowly, over to one side, then the
other. Though rolling your head back can be back for your
neck and throat, it sometimes helps to relax the muscles in the back of
your neck. Repeat these stretch a few times, allowing your
muscles to relax completely before turning your head again.
Drinking lots of water is also a good way to go at curing headaches, as
muscles and ligaments will contract if they're dehydrated.
Pain medicines like
aspirin and acetaminophen can also help cure headaches, though it's
usually more effective to cut off the pain at its source: the muscle
tension. Commercial massagers can also be helpful in this
respect, as can a kind friend. Reducing the amount of stress
in your life is a great way to cure headaches, as most people will
carry tension in their shoulders and necks when under stress.
If you can cut down on the cause of the muscle tension then you can
completely nip the problem in the bud.