Hey everyone, I’m sure you all know this but headaches suck. Nothing can ruin a perfectly productive day quite like a killer headache. We’ve talked a lot about how physical and mental health go hand in hand and headaches are a prime example of this. Although they can be caused by a multitude of physical factors, they can also be brought on by stress and poor mental health. If you’re tired of taking headache medicine or you’re looking for a new remedy that works for you, search no longer, here are 5 ways to help cure headaches. Before we get started I should note that if you’re in extreme pain or have very frequent headaches you should seek professional medical advice. Although I may be one day, I am not currently a doctor. With that said, let’s get started!
1. Stretch/ Massage: Your headache may be caused by tense neck muscles, after all, they have to hold your head up all day. Try slowly stretching or gently massaging the back of your neck to improve blood flow and loosen your muscles.
2. Drink Water: You might be tired of me telling you to drink water in almost every post but it’s so important. Headaches are often an indication of dehydration and the best way to fix that is to drink water. In fact, as soon as you’re done reading this I want you to get up and drink a glass of water.
3. Get Some Alone Time: You may just be overstimulated. Tell your friends you love them, find a cool, quiet place and take deep breaths. Avoid harsh, bright lights and thumping music for a bit and give your brain a little down time. Sometimes that’s all you need.
4. Sleep: Now you know how strongly I feel about this one, in fact, I made an entire post dedicated to the importance of sleeping more. Sleep deprivation is often the cause of headaches, especially in students. Don’t wait until winter break to catch up on your sleep.
5. Drink Less Coffee: This may sound odd to people who drink coffee regularly – as people who are dependent on caffeine may actually get a headache from not drinking coffee – but it will help you more in the long run. If you drink multiple cups of coffee a day and are getting headaches often, that’s probably your issue.
It’s important to know your body and understand your own needs. Try the things mentioned above but at the end of the day, if you’re having bad headaches often you really should see a doctor. I hope this helped you all.
Keep smiling,
Malaika
The views expressed in this blog are my own, and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the University of Victoria. I monitor posts and comments to ensure all content complies with the University of Victoria Guidelines on Blogging.