Headaches are the most common forms of pain which every individual without exception experiences in life. The causes of headaches are usually very simple. Tension, a bad day at work, eye strain and lack of water or dehydration are some common causes. Sometimes, even when people are hungry for a prolonged period, they may suffer a headache. Women offer suffer from headaches when the level of oestrogen, a female sex hormone fluctuates in the body. This happens usually before, during or after the menstrual period.
Read more on Home Remedies for Headache and Headache Treatment. Also visit on Migraine headaches
Causes of Headache or Migraine
Migraines – It usually occurs on one side of the head due to abnormal expansion and contraction of the blood vessels in and around the brain.
It starts with a distortion in the vision. Environmental changes (changes in weather, strong odors and glaring lights), emotional factors, substances in foods and hormonal changes are factors that can aggravate migraine.
Depression Headaches – They are persistent, muscle-contraction headache that are accompanied by suicidal thoughts, sleeplessness and lethargy.
Tension Headaches – These are also called stress or muscle contraction headaches. It mild and everyone experiences it. It may be caused by restricted blood flow or sustained muscle tension.
Too much or too little sleep, fatigue, tensing head and neck muscles, grinding your teeth and gum chewing are the factors that influence tension headache.
Cluster Headache – These occur daily for days, weeks or months and strike in a group. Pain is centered on one side of the head. The pain is steady and piercing. Heavy drinking and smoking are other contributing factors. Poor posture, hangover, poor lighting, eyestrain and blood pressure are other causes.
Symptoms of Headache
1. Throughout the head, at the temples, forehead or at the back of the neck, there maybe dull steady pain (Tension Headache).
2. Pulsating pain with recurrent headaches; and accompanied by runny nose, vomiting, visual disturbances, light-headedness and nausea. These headaches may occur 1 to 4 times a month and last from 4 to 72 hours (Depression Headache).
3. Usually strikes at night or in the early morning; Steady piercing pain, located behind or around one eye or in one temple.
Home Remedies for Headache
1. Deep breathing . If headaches are stress-related, just doing some deep breathing might get rid of the pain.
2. Exercise. Slight exercise like going for a walk might lessen the length of time the headache will last for.
3. Massage. Getting a massage of the upper shoulders and neck will lessen the pressure on the head. Also, pressing the area on your hand between the thumb and the forefinger can relieve a headache.
4. Drink tea. Herbal teas are good for getting rid of a headache. It is a combination of the hot, steaming drink and the herbal ingredients in the tea. Chamomile and peppermint teas are two of the better ones to relieve headaches.
5. Steam. Filling a basin with boiling water and leaning over it can help get rid of a sinus headache. Cover your head with a towel to get the maximum benefit of the steam. If you like, you can add some essential oils such as peppermint.
6. Cold/hot pack. Either an ice pack or a hot pack can be placed on your forehead or over your eyes.
7. Take a nap. Sometimes lying down in a dark room for a few minutes is all you need to get rid of a headache.
8. Soak your feet. Soaking your feet in warm water and place a cold cloth on your forehead is supposed to get rid of headaches quickly.
9. Drink vinegar. Mix two tablespoonfuls of apple cider vinegar with 8oz of water, then add a spoonful of raw honey. Drink it up and your headache supposedly will disappear quickly.
10. Eat some spicy food. If you have a sinus headache, eat spicy food. It will make your nose run and may relieve the pain.
