Weekend Plus Desk :
Owing to our increasingly hectic lifestyles and unhealthy habits, headaches have become really common. While on some days it may subside on its own after a quick nap, on other days even a pain killer might not be able to eliminate the symptoms.
Why do we get a headache
A headache, more often than not, is a clear sign that you are not taking care of your body. From dehydration, chronic stress, lack of sleep to even unhealthy eating habits, there are plenty of reasons which may cause a splitting headache.
Tricks to get rid of the headache
Anyone who has ever suffered from a mind numbing headache knows how it can single-handedly ruin your day. It severely impacts your productivity as you just want to curl up in the bed, switch off the lights and wait for the pain to pass.
If you are not the one to pop pills or if the over-the-counter-medications are just not doing the job, here are five efficient tricks which can reduce the severity of the headache.
Watch what you are eating
More often than not, your diet has a direct impact on headaches. Avoid food items that contain Monosodium glutamate (commonly found in instant noodles), limit your caffeine and alcohol intake and make sure you do not eat crispy and crunchy food items when you have a headache.
Remove the pressure from the scalp
A lot of times, we unknowingly put a lot of strain on our scalp. Unclench your jaw, breathe and remove any hat, hair band, hair clip, headband or any other hair accessory. If you keep your hair in a bun or tight ponytail, the pulling of the nerves may also lead to a headache.
Try massaging
If your work involves spending a lot of time in front of a screen in a poor posture, the muscles of your neck and scalp may tense up leading to a throbbing headache. Apply gentle pressure to the painful area with your index fingers or thumbs. Massaging your head helps in relieving the tightened muscles and improves blood circulation.
Heat and cold packs to the rescue
Try placing a warm compress on the back of your head and neck to alleviate the splitting pain. On the other hand, you can also apply cold packs to your forehead and temples to get rid of a nagging tension headache.
Catch some sleep
Ultimately, nothing beats catching some shut-eye when it comes to alleviating the symptoms of a headache. If your headache seems to get progressively worse in a particular environment, detach yourself from the situation and get some rest. A goodnight’s sleep can help you feel significantly better after you wake up.
However, it is important to understand that sleeping too much can also trigger a headache.
Owing to our increasingly hectic lifestyles and unhealthy habits, headaches have become really common. While on some days it may subside on its own after a quick nap, on other days even a pain killer might not be able to eliminate the symptoms.
Why do we get a headache
A headache, more often than not, is a clear sign that you are not taking care of your body. From dehydration, chronic stress, lack of sleep to even unhealthy eating habits, there are plenty of reasons which may cause a splitting headache.
Tricks to get rid of the headache
Anyone who has ever suffered from a mind numbing headache knows how it can single-handedly ruin your day. It severely impacts your productivity as you just want to curl up in the bed, switch off the lights and wait for the pain to pass.
If you are not the one to pop pills or if the over-the-counter-medications are just not doing the job, here are five efficient tricks which can reduce the severity of the headache.
Watch what you are eating
More often than not, your diet has a direct impact on headaches. Avoid food items that contain Monosodium glutamate (commonly found in instant noodles), limit your caffeine and alcohol intake and make sure you do not eat crispy and crunchy food items when you have a headache.
Remove the pressure from the scalp
A lot of times, we unknowingly put a lot of strain on our scalp. Unclench your jaw, breathe and remove any hat, hair band, hair clip, headband or any other hair accessory. If you keep your hair in a bun or tight ponytail, the pulling of the nerves may also lead to a headache.
Try massaging
If your work involves spending a lot of time in front of a screen in a poor posture, the muscles of your neck and scalp may tense up leading to a throbbing headache. Apply gentle pressure to the painful area with your index fingers or thumbs. Massaging your head helps in relieving the tightened muscles and improves blood circulation.
Heat and cold packs to the rescue
Try placing a warm compress on the back of your head and neck to alleviate the splitting pain. On the other hand, you can also apply cold packs to your forehead and temples to get rid of a nagging tension headache.
Catch some sleep
Ultimately, nothing beats catching some shut-eye when it comes to alleviating the symptoms of a headache. If your headache seems to get progressively worse in a particular environment, detach yourself from the situation and get some rest. A goodnight’s sleep can help you feel significantly better after you wake up.
However, it is important to understand that sleeping too much can also trigger a headache.
