6 Headache Hacks to Help You Feel Better

Although headaches are extremely common and many people experience them at some point in their lives, it doesn’t make dealing with them any easier. Annoying tension and pain in any region of your head can affect your mood, your work, and even your social life. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to relieve the pain while you’re waiting for an appointment with your doctor.

Here at Bright Side, we know how exhausting headaches can be. And we gathered some tips and tricks that can help you deal with these annoying sensations.

1. Give acupressure a try.

Many charts depict the acupressure points on our ears as a child in a fetal position, and there are lots of pressure points on our ears that correspond to different parts of our body. Applying gentle pressure on a point located just behind the earlobe may relieve headaches, and pressing the point at the very top center of the ear can alleviate tension that often accompanies migraines.

2. Avoid smoked foods.

Although smoked foods surely taste delicious, it’s better not to buy a smoker if you suffer from headaches. Smoked foods are rich in histamine, a chemical that is naturally found in the body but can trigger headaches in some people. Eliminating histamine-rich foods from your diet can help relieve frequent migraines.

3. Soothe pain with a cold gel pack.

If your headache is so strong you can barely get up, then applying cold or frozen compresses to your neck or head can help alleviate the annoying symptoms. Because it constricts blood vessels and decreases inflammation, applying a bag filled with ice or a cold gel pack to the head can reduce migraine pain.

4. Have some coffee.

Many coffee lovers know that nothing can make morning headaches go away faster than a hot cup of java. In addition to boosting your mood and helping you face the day, sipping coffee has been proven to have a positive effect on headaches. Just remember not to drink too much of it because withdrawal from caffeine may cause migraines instead of helping to relieve them.

5. Choose the right exercise.

Staying active and exercising regularly is one of the best things you can do for your health, but if you’re familiar with annoying headaches, you might want to be mindful of the type of workout you choose. Some high-impact activities, such as lifting heavy weights, may lead to a condition known as “weightlifter’s headache.” More gentle exercises, on the contrary, can be helpful when dealing with migraines. For example, yoga can release tension in your body, which, in turn, lowers the risk of tension headaches.

6. Wear your hair loose.

Although nothing seems more convenient than putting your hair up in a bun, it’s better to opt for loose hairstyles to avoid painful headaches. Wearing your hair in a tight ponytail might cause external compression on your head, leading to migraines.

Do you get headaches often? Do you know any other hacks for how to deal with them?