Almost everyone experiences headaches from time to time. Unfortunately their causes in many cases are unknown, making it hard to diagnose what to do about them. Tension headaches--resulting from a constricting of blood vessels in the brain--are the most common type of headache, but cluster and migraine headaches can also occur and are more painful, though much less common. If you don't want to burn through your wallet making visits to the hospital, you can try to treat the headache on your own first.
Relax Your Muscles
Tension headaches often result from exactly what they're named for--tension. An effective way to combat this is by relaxing the muscles, and you can do this several different ways, including applying a hot pad to your muscles, such as on your neck, back or elsewhere that feels good. Hot showers or baths may also be effective, and a massage can help relieve both muscle tension and headache pain. Massages should be given to the head, neck and shoulders, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Deep Breathing
Taking long inhalations and exhalations can help calm your body and relieve stress. Stress can be a common cause of headaches. Treat it by letting your emotions settle and allowing your mind and body to decompress.
Seek Therapy
If you have chronic headaches and think they might be related to chronic stress or anxiety, you might want to consider visiting a behavioral therapist to examine these issues and learn ways you can manage stress.
Drink Caffeine Moderately
Caffeine works to restrict blood vessels and reduce pain caused by a headache, according to Fox News. However, caffeine can also pose a threat if too much is consumed--excessive use of the stimulant can trigger rebound headaches that may be worse than the initial head pain. Take caffeine in small amounts when attempting to ease the pain of a headache.
Drink Water
If you have a headache and haven't been drinking many fluids during the day, it's likely that your headache is the result of dehydration. Taking in water slowly can help rehydrate your body and eliminate the headache, according to Fox News.
