FOCUS ON… Beating a headache
Stop that pounding pain with these expert tips – as well as a few surprising facts
1 Hydrate ‘Dehydration is one of the most common headache triggers. The one thing you can do to prevent and treat headaches is to drink lots of water,’ says headache specialist Professor Anne MacGregor.
In a study, headache sufferers were either given a placebo painkiller or asked to drink an additional 1.5ltr of water a day for 12 weeks. Headaches among those drinking the extra water dramatically reduced.*
2 Use heat and ice Tightness in your neck causing your headache? Apply a heat pad or covered hot-water bottle. Or, if you have a pulsating headache like a migraine, apply ice in a tea towel or muslin cloth to your temples instead.
Cooling down the blood passing through the arteries alleviates some of the throbbing.
3 Exercise Regular aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming, can reduce both the intensity and regularity of migraines, says research from the US Pain Foundation. Migraine patients who were not regular exercisers reduced the number of migraines they had – and lowered their pain level – after taking part in a 12-week cycling programme.**
4 Have sex Experiencing an orgasm can lead to ‘partial or complete relief’ of head pain, say German neurologists from the University of Münster.
The study found over half of migraine sufferers who had an orgasm during an episode felt an improvement in symptoms. This may be down to the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, during arousal and orgasm.
5 Let your hair down Although plaits, ponytails and buns are all practical, if they’re pulled tight, they can cause a build-up of head pain.
According to research by the City of London Migraine Clinic, in a survey of 93 women, 50 experienced a headache from wearing a ponytail. Tight-fitting hats and Alice bands can also cause pain, straining the connective tissue in the scalp.
6 Skip the lie-in Snoozing, even for half an hour, can result in a sore noggin, especially for coffee lovers.
Caffeine affects the brain’s blood vessels, so withdrawal, reduction or the delay of a lie-in – especially if exacerbated by low bloodsugar levels due to a later breakfast – can cause pain, warns Professor MacGregor.
Try to make sure you have your caffeine fix at around the same time each day.