Stopping the Pain
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Most painkillers won't kick in for about 30 minutes, so take a dose as soon as you start feeling the headache coming on. Even if you're already in the depths of misery, a quick dose of ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, or aspirin can take the edge off.
Use caffeine carefully — it can be a double-edged sword.
Many OTC painkillers contain caffeine, for two reasons. Caffeine makes painkillers work faster and more effectively.[1] Without caffeine, painkillers would be slower and less effective, which leaves open the door to painkiller abuse by well-meaning individuals who are simply looking for relief.
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But caffeine can also pose a literal and metaphorical headache
when your body becomes dependent on it. If you're a heavy caffeine drinker and
you suddenly take it out of your diet, headaches are a common side-effect. Read
the following article to learn how to slowly and effectively overcome caffeine
withdrawal.
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Look out for "rebound headache." Rebound Headache
results from taking too much caffeine in concert with caffeine-laden
painkillers.[2]If you're already
taking a painkiller with caffeine as an ingredient, there's no need to drink
extra coffee or energy drinks containing caffeine, as this may lead
to rebound headache.
Find a quiet, dark place to take a break
If you can, try to lie down and relax for at least 30 minutes. Shut the blinds, turn off the lights, and focus on your breathing.
Find a quiet, dark place to take a break
If you can, try to lie down and relax for at least 30 minutes. Shut the blinds, turn off the lights, and focus on your breathing.
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Request absolute peace and quiet. If you're forced to rest
around other people, explain that you have a headache and ask that they please
try to be quiet and leave you undisturbed. Pre-emptively asking for cooperation
can help you avoid an ugly interruption later. If you'd like, get some sleep or
take a nap, but not too long though.
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Adjust the room temperature. Some people can only
relax in a cool room, while others prefer a large blanket or a space heater.
Try to imitate whatever conditions work best for you when you go to sleep at
night.
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Avoid starting a fresh tension headache. Make sure your bed or
couch is comfortable and that your head is supported in a position that doesn't
increase the tension to your neck.
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Wear an eye mask to block out the light.
Use a cool compress.
Use a cool compress.
Placing
something soft and cool over your forehead can help the blood vessels
constrict, which might ease some of the pain of the headache. This works
particularly well if the problem is concentrated in your temples or sinuses.
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Wet a washcloth with cool water, and lay it over your forehead.
Refresh it with more cold water as soon as it starts to feel uncomfortably
warm.
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Prep a heavy-hitting compress. Put a wet washcloth in a
resealable plastic sandwich bag, and place the bag in the freezer for 30
minutes. Remove it and place on your forehead for a long-lasting compress
— the washcloth will be extra cold, and the bag will keep the icy wetness
off of your skin.
Massage your scalp, neck and ear lobes.
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Doing
some light massage can distract you from the pain, as well as improving
circulation and relieving tension. For a basic massage, gently press your
fingers over your temples, and move them in slow circles. Or, try these more
advanced techniques:
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Do a scalp massage. Hop in the shower and treat yourself to a
long scalp massage as you shampoo your hair. Or, for a drier version, pour a
little bit of coconut or argan oil on your fingers and rub into your scalp.
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Find two tennis or racquet balls and put them in a sock. Lie on
a flat surface and place the two balls just below the base of your skull, on
the occipital bone, and relax. You may feel sinus pressure or minimal
discomfort at first but it will go away. This is especially helpful for sinus
headaches.
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Have someone else massage your neck and back if possible. The
simple touch of someone else who cares about you can relieve a lot of tension
instantly. Have them focus on the occipital region as well.
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Gently massaging the bridge of your nose can help relieve sinus
and migraine headaches.
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Firmly massage the acupressure point on each hand where the
thumb and index finger bones meet (second metacarpal bone). It's best if
somebody does this for you, so both hands can be massaged simultaneously, but
if that's not possible, massage one hand for five minutes, then massage the
other hand.
Practice relaxation techniques.
Meditation
Prayer
Deep breathing
Visualization
Listening to binaural beats
Try to just calm down, if you can fall asleep that might help
over half the time people will wake up without the headache!].