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How to Stop Headaches Immediately: 5 Things to Remember

Medically reviewed by Mae Charisse Antalan, MD · General Practitioner


Written by Jan Alwyn Batara · Updated Jan 21, 2023

    How to Stop Headaches Immediately: 5 Things to Remember

    Knowing how to stop headaches immediately is useful information. This is especially true for people who experience headaches on a daily basis, and are trying to figure out what methods work best.

    What are Common Headache Triggers?

    One way of dealing with headaches would be to prevent them from happening in the first place. Headaches usually have triggers, and figuring out these can help reduce the occurrence of headaches.

    Here are some of the  most common headache triggers:

    • Bright lights
    • Sitting too long in front of a screen
    • Stress
    • Lack of sleep
    • Bad posture
    • Dehydration
    • Not eating enough

    Any combination of these factors can trigger headaches. It would be beneficial to take note of any factors – aside from the aforementioned – that may affect your condition.

    How to Stop Headaches Immediately: 5 Tips

    Preventing headaches is not always possible. Sometimes, headaches just happen even if they weren’t triggered by anything. In these situations, here are 5 things you can do:

    1. Over-the-counter medication

    Over-the-counter painkillers are the usual go-to solution for headaches. These can provide instant relief for most types of headaches, as well as other aches and pains.

    However, one problem with using painkillers is that you should not take them every day. This is because taking too much can lead to liver and kidney damage, among other health problems.

    This can be difficult for people experience the condition often, since they can’t always take a painkiller to feel better.

    2. Natural remedies

    There are a lot of natural remedies such as herbs and oils that can help with headaches. These are not as fast-acting as painkillers, but they do provide some relief.

    In particular, peppermint oil has been found to be effective in providing temporary relief for headaches. Other natural remedies include magnesium supplements, vitamin B12 supplements, lavender oil, and feverfew, which is a type of herb.

    If you have any allergies or sensitivities, it would be a good idea to do some research before trying out herbs. It would also be good to consult your doctor first and see what they think about natural remedies.

    3. Meditation and deep breathing

    Meditation and deep breathing have also been known to have a positive effect on headaches. In particular, these are effective on stress-induced headaches.

    These techniques can help alleviate pain, as well as stress levels. These can also help with relaxation, as well as getting a good night’s sleep.

    The good thing about meditation and deep breathing is that there are no side effects to it. This means that you can readily do meditation and deep breathing along with the other headache remedies listed here.

    4. Acupressure

    One way of how to stop headache immediately is through acupressure. Acupressure is a form of alternative medicine wherein pressure is applied to different “pressure points” in the body.

    Depending on which points are pressed or squeezed, blood flow can be improved, and pain can be reduced.

    For headaches, the pressure point located right in between the thumb and the index finger is pressed. Pressing this firmly for about 5 minutes can reportedly help relieve headaches.

    While more studies need to be done about the effectiveness of acupressure, there’s no harm in trying it out for yourself.

    5. Rest

    Lastly, there are cases wherein the only remedy to your headache is getting enough rest.

    When you feel a headache coming on, try taking a break for a few minutes. Sit down on a comfortable chair in a dimly lit room, and close your eyes for a bit. This way, you feel more relaxed, your stress levels go down, and your body can deal with the headache.

    It’s also important to get a good night’s sleep. Getting 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night can help your mind and body relax, lowers your stress levels, and also lowers the chance that you can get a headache.

    Taking a break while you’re working, even just for 5-10 minutes, can also help reduce the chances of getting a headache.

    Learn more about Headaches here. 

    Disclaimer

    Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

    Medically reviewed by

    Mae Charisse Antalan, MD

    General Practitioner


    Written by Jan Alwyn Batara · Updated Jan 21, 2023

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