Headaches: Ways to Stop the Pain

Almost everyone gets an occasional headache. The list of things that can cause headaches is long, but most common headaches are caused by simple tension. Try some of Preferred Care’s easy ideas for treating and preventing headaches - and take headache pain out of your day!

Ways to Treat a Tension Headache

• Massage your neck muscles, rubbing gently and firmly toward the heart. Massage your temples.
• Use heat. Apply a heating pad or take a warm shower.
• Apply a cold pack against your forehead or neck.
• Lie down in a dark room with a cool cloth on your forehead.
• Take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen for pain (eat a small snack to prevent stomach upset).
• Try a relaxation technique. Close your eyes and focus on slow, deep breathing, or learn meditation. These techniques also can help prevent future headaches.

Tips to Prevent Tension Headaches

• Make a conscious effort to relax your jaw, neck and shoulder muscles, even when you don’t have a headache. Massage your temples and neck frequently.
• Notice your neck and shoulder posture while working and make adjustments if necessary.
• Include some physical activity into every day.
• Reduce the amount of caffeine you get from coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolate and cocoa.

Some people get headaches after eating certain foods. The most common culprits are:

• Hard cheeses
• Red wine
• Caffeine
• Chocolate
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• Nuts
• Onions
• Sour cream
• Bananas
• Citrus fruit

Informational Source: Parlay International

For more information on the types of headaches, visit our Health Encyclopedia.

You may be able to prevent headaches with a few simple changes in your daily routine. Learn more in our Health Encyclopedia.

Learn easy ways to treat (and beat) headache pain in our Health Encyclopedia.

Posted: October 2004