Headache hacks: Try these 4 effective ways for relief

A headache is a condition when you experience pain in the head, face, or upper neck. While most people confuse a headache with migraine, it is not the same. Headaches can vary in frequency and intensity. On the other hand, a migraine is an extremely painful primary headache disorder and has symptoms that are quite debilitating than headaches. In fact, some types of severe migraines do not even cause head pain.

There are several reasons for a headache – be it diet, stress, dehydration, lack of sleep or even the stagnant lifestyle most of us lead due to long working hours.

According to nutritionist and health coach Simrun Chopra, one can reduce headaches effectively by following a few tips.

Also, read: Headache due to gas? Try these 5 home remedies

In an Instagram video, she shared how the affects of headaches be controlled:

1. Drink enough water

Drinking optimum levels of water is one of the most effective ways in which one can help prevent headaches. Consume at least 8 to 10 glasses of water during the day in a gap of every two to three hours. If you are hydrated enough, you would realize that you are not suffering from headaches too much.

Meanwhile, also avoid dehydrating beverages, like alcohol or coffee. Caffeine can help relieve head pain at times but it can also lead to dehydration. So have it in moderation. Alcoholic beverages, on the other hand, tend to cause a headache the next day.

2. Get 6-7 hours of sleep

Poor sleep patterns have a direct impact on headaches and getting enough sleep is vital for staying healthy. During your sleep, the body repairs itself in order to make your brain and body function optimally once you’re awake. So make sure to get a good night’s sleep of at least 6-7 hours to help keep headaches at bay.

3. Don’t under-eat, and avoid large gaps between meals

Your eating habits are often linked with both headaches and migraines. Eating too little, that is having meals during the day under 1000 calories, causes a change in your blood sugar levels. It is caused because you are taking in lesser calories that your body ideally needs to function and hence, the blood glucose levels can drop too low, causing muscle tensions and headaches.

Similarly, if you have lunch at 1 pm and dinner at 9 pm, your body will trigger headaches because of the gap in between meals. So make sure to have a snack in between meals and do not skip meals at all.

4. Stretch your neck if you have a desk job

For many people, headaches are caused due to a stiff neck from bad posture while working on the laptop or computer. We all tend to bend our heads while typing and do not move in between work hours. Make it a point to stretch your neck and keep taking a quick walk for 5 minutes in order to avoid severe work-induced headaches.

Last but not the least, too much screen time or being in direct sunlight can also lead to headaches. Hence, it is important to find your trigger and as soon as you experience a headache, reach out to drink a glass of water or eat something. You can also take a 10 min nap if you’re at work but always make sure that you do not pop a pill each time you have a headache.