What a Pain in the Neck!
Headaches are often the bane of human existence. They can turn a perfectly good day miserable at, sometimes literally, the drop of a hat. Many people will quickly swallow over-the-counter medication to relieve their pain, but this doesn't actually solve the problem. While pills help block your body's ability to interpret pain signals, they do not actually do anything to treat the underlying cause, and thus once the medicine wears off after a few short hours, you could be right back where you started: with your head pounding unhappily. It turns out, some of the most effective cures are also the simplest.
First, it's useful to determine what's causing your headache. Is the headache located toward the back and lower region of your skull? Are your neck and shoulders stiff? Are you under a lot of pressure or worried about something? If yes, then you probably have a tension headache, and the fastest way to alleviate it is to break up the physical tightness in the muscles leading up into your head. If you feel dizzy, weak, hungry, or thirsty, you probably have a headache due to low blood sugar, dehydration, or fatigue, and your best bet is a snack, a drink, and a nap. If you have allergies, a cold, or the flu, your headache is likely from the illness your body is currently trying to fight.
The key to all headaches is relaxation. Some find the best results from a power nap, a warm bubble bath, or a cup of tea. If you have a friend or family member who you're close with, you can ask them to give you a quick back massage, concentrating on your shoulders, neck, and back of the head. If you feel like splurging, you can leave your home to look for a professional-quality massage. Most shopping malls provide massage chairs for public use as well as booths where trained massage therapists can help you. It's also important to give your body all the resources it needs to function properly. Sitting down for a healthy snack, like an apple or banana, will help you maintain the amount of blood sugar your body needs in order to operate. The human body needs a lot of water to work, so a simple glass of cool water can help reduce a headache almost instantly. Of course, it's also possible to have too much water -- you need to balance your water intake with salt, so a small snack of potato chips or salted crackers can also help. And lastly, if you go too long without sleep, or without truly relaxing sleep, it can result in terrible headaches. Sometimes all that is needed is a good long nap or to hit the hay a bit earlier one night.
Lastly, if you find that you're still tired, no matter how much you try to sleep, or if your headaches keep coming back day after day, it might be time to contact a doctor to see if there's another underlying cause.
