How to treat headaches yourself effectively
Headaches; a bothersome yet everyday problem. We all know that sensation of a stabbing, pounding or throbbing headache. Luckily, most people are only affected occasionally. What's more, for the most part, occasional headaches are nothing to worry about. And we all have our own home remedies for treating them. We wanted to find out what really works and also take a closer look at pain medication.
Let's start with the good news: There are effective home remedies out there and, if taken properly, pain medication really can save the day.
Effective home remedies: Caffeine and peppermint oil
Caffeine has been proven effective for treating mild headaches. Caffeine prevents the body from releasing tissue hormones known as prostaglandins. These are hormone-like substances which cause pain, fever and inflammations. Moreover, caffeine improves the circulation which, in turn, can stop a headache from developing. Good to know: An espresso contains more caffeine than a cup of filter coffee and is more gentle on your stomach.
An espresso contains more caffeine than a cup of filter coffee and is more gentle on your stomach.
Headaches can also be alleviated with peppermint oil. Apply the oil to your temples, forehead and neck and massage in gently. Studies have shown that 10 per cent peppermint oil is as effective as one gram of paracetamol.
Fresh air, plenty of fluids, a warm cherry pit pillow placed on the neck and a cold flannel on the forehead have also all proven effective.
Fresh air, plenty of fluids, a warm cherry pit pillow placed on the neck and a cold flannel on the forehead have also all proven effective.
Put up and shut up? Bad idea!
Home remedies cannot work miracles. They are often unable to alleviate severe symptoms. For this reason, some people think that they just have to live with the pain.
The majority of doctors advise against this. Failure to treat pain effectively increases the risk of suffering from chronic pain. Chronic pain occurs when the body becomes used to recurrent pain and develops a pain memory. The symptoms then become permanent.
For this reason, it makes sense to take non-prescription pain killers early on to treat occasional headaches.
Chronic pain occurs when the body becomes used to recurrent pain and develops a pain memory.
The right dose is all-important
Have you ever taken just half a tablet and, with that, just half the recommended dose thinking that would be better for you? That's actually not a good idea. Pain killers can only work when there is a sufficient concentration of active substance in the blood. If the dose is not enough, there will be no pain-relieving effect and your headache remains. You may then be too quick to take another tablet or you continue to suffer in the belief that you cannot be helped.
Always read the package information leaflet
Always make sure to take the right dose as recommended in the package information leaflet. In all likelihood, this will relieve your pain.
No more than necessary
Too much, too often and for too long - that is also not advisable. After all, regular consumption of pain killers can actually encourage headaches. Plus, all effective medications carry the risk of undesired side effects. That's why, you shouldn't take non-prescription pain killers on more than ten days in a month.
Vigorous sport and pain killers are not a good combination
When you engage in strenuous physical activity, the body reduces the circulation in the kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, pain killers cannot be metabolised properly and there is a greater risk of side effects. Moreover, this medication suppresses the body's vital pain warning system and you may fail to notice that you are putting too much pressure on your joints or cartilage.
