Treating Headaches Yourself

Headaches can last between 30 minutes, to several hours. 

Before we get into the Do’s and Don’ts, let’s first look at how many types of headaches there are, because knowing that can help your medical provider treat yours better.

Types of Headaches

1. Migraine: Migraines are headaches coupled with intense throbbing pain on one side of the head. Sometimes before the headache begins a person may experience an aura usually in the form of sensory and visual disturbances. 

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2. Tension Headaches: These headaches often come with dull, constant pain on both sides of the head. They can be caused by stress, anxiety, dehydration, lack of sleep, or even loud noise amongst other triggers. 

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3. Cluster headaches: These are severe and recurrent headaches. They are six times more likely Trusted Source to affect males than females. People describe an intense burning or piercing pain behind or around one eye. Other symptoms also include watering eyes, swollen eyelids, blocked or runny noses, and sensitivity to light and sound. 

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Let’s get into some DIY treatment techniques.

Do:

• Drink plenty of water
• Get plenty of rest if you have a cold or the flu
• Try to relax – stress can make headaches worse
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen
• Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities.

Don’t:

• Drink alcohol
• Skip meals (even if you might not feel like eating anything)
• Sleep more than you usually would – it can make the headache worse
• Strain your eyes for a long time. For example, looking at a screen.

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Dehydration is often the usual culprit behind most headaches. So if symptoms persist, contact your nearest Heal360 clinic. A doctor will treat you via intravenous (IV) fluids and electrolytes for quick rehydration. Book an appointment or head to your closest Heal360 clinic.