Almost everyone gets headaches at some point. Whether brought on by illness, tension, loud noises, dehydration, or any other number of factors, the pain can make it difficult to concentrate or send you straight to bed. In many cases, it’s easy to find headache relief, and it doesn’t always require reaching for medication.

How to Relieve Headaches

1. Drink Water

Dehydration is a common cause of headaches. Not drinking enough fluids can cause anything from a dull ache to extreme, migraine-like pain, along with other symptoms of dehydration like fatigue or dark-colored urine. Drinking water or a sports drink to replenish electrolytes can often take the edge off of a headache or help it subside completely.

2. Use a Cold Compress

Cold compresses can provide headache relief by restricting the blood vessels, which helps reduce inflammation and calm nerve endings. Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to your temples, the back of your neck, or head for about 15 minutes to reduce pain.

3. Dim the Lights

Bright light, including that from a computer screen, can cause or worsen headaches. Retreating to a dark, quiet room for a bit can help ease your pain, but if that’s not an option, reducing the amount and intensity of light can help. Put on a pair of sunglasses, adjust the brightness setting on your computer, or close the blinds.

4. Have Some Caffeine

If it’s early enough in the day that it won’t disrupt your sleep, a cup of coffee or tea can provide some headache relief. In fact, some over-the-counter headache medicines contain caffeine as an active ingredient. The substance helps restrict the blood vessels, which reduces blood flow to relieve pain. Don’t have too much, however, because the withdrawal can trigger a rebound headache. A single cup is often adequate.

5. See a Chiropractor

If you have regular tension headaches, or your headaches are caused by pain and stiffness in your neck, chiropractic adjustments may be helpful for pain relief. Adjustments can help align your spine to reduce the pressure that causes pain. The chiropractor can also make recommendations regarding ergonomics, posture, diet, and supplements that can reduce or prevent recurring headaches.

There’s no need to let headache pain keep you from enjoying life. Turn to Team Health Chiropractic in St. Louis, MO, for treatments designed to relieve pain from headaches, injuries, sciatica, herniated discs, and more. To schedule an appointment, call (314) 567-9990. Visit them online to learn more about their services.