Saturday, September 10, 2011

Stress Headaches -How to Get Rid of Them

By Ruth E. Laroche


Headaches have become a common complaint in this stressful world we live in. It is not usual, though, to suffer from a major headache each day or each week. In this article we are going to look at some of the proven techniques that can help you prevent or even cure your stress headaches. Depending on what has been causing your headaches to happen, some of the methods we talk about will probably work a lot better than others.

An ice pack can be a fast and effective remedy for a stress headache. You can make one with a cold towel wrapped around a bag of ice or even around a bag of frozen veggies. Lie down and try to relax while putting the ice pack on your forehead and moving it every few minutes to the top of your head and your forehead. Let it sit the longest where you feel the most pain. Ice has the effect of numbing pain, and it can reduce the inflammation that's causing the headache. This won't address the underlying cause of your stress headaches but it will offer you some good relief.

One common cause of stress headaches is dehydration, so drinking more water can be the solution. You may not know exactly when you are dehydrated especially if you are distracted by work or other things. Remember that you don't want to drink more caffeinated beverages like soda or energy drinks, as this can actually contribute to headaches. Drinking water or maybe some herbal iced tea or pure fruit juice is the best way to rehydrate your body. Eating lots of salty food can make your dehydration worse so reducing your salt intake (and intake of junk and snack foods in general) can help too.

The foods and drinks you take in can contribute to your headaches but most people don't realize this connection. What you think of as a tension headache could be due to a food allergy or sensitivity. Some people find that alcohol, even small amounts, can cause headaches. Caffeine is another common causer of headaches, particularly for people who consume a lot of it during the day. Cutting back on caffeine is usually the primary solution to getting rid of your headaches. Some people get headaches from consuming other kinds of foods too like cheese, chocolate, peanuts and peanut butter--anything you might have a sensitivity to. Try to find out if there is a connection between your headaches and anything you've eaten or drunk.

In summary, stress headaches are not something anyone want to live with. They can be brought on by anything from illness to complex internal issues to wearing a hat that is too tight. You can try to ease them with one of the remedies talked about here but if they don't work, you should talk to a medical professional.




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