A hot shower or moist heat applied to the back of the neck may ease symptoms of infrequent tension headaches. Try a hot water bottle, a warm towel, or a warm compress. If you prefer cold, try wrapping an ice pack in a towel. Then put it where you hurt -- on your forehead, temples, or neck.
If you suffer from headaches or migraines, you’re far from alone. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, around 36 million Americans are affected. Headaches can have a profound impact on quality of life.
They might interfere with performance at school or on the job; it’s estimated that headaches and migraines cost U.S. employers around $13 billion each year in lost productivity. Social interaction may suffer, and people who have chronic headaches are three times more likely to be depressed than those who don’t.
The brain itself is incapable of feeling pain. Headaches actually start in the surrounding tissues and blood vessels or in the nerves of the neck, face and scalp. Tension headaches are most common. They usually creep from the neck to the back of the head and temples, marked by pressure and pulsing pain. Cluster headaches strike suddenly and are concentrated on one side of the head. Sinus pain due to infection and “rebound” headaches are other types. Rebound headaches, ironically, are due to overuse of headache medication.
Breakdown in the lymphatic system due to allergies or poor digestion is being investigated as a possible pain trigger. Since the neck is a major hub for lymph nodes and vessels, decreased blood flow could invite headaches, especially migraines.
Migraines are marked by relentless, blinding pain and are extremely serious. In a survey conducted by the National Headache Foundation, 30 percent of respondents said that they required bed rest during an attack and 90 percent couldn’t function normally. According to an in-depth New York Times health report, people who suffer from migraines are at increased risk for stroke and heart disease.
Untreated, attacks may last anywhere from four hours to three days. There are several warning signs to onset of migraine:
• Stiffness in the neck
• Food cravings
• Constipation
• Irritability
• Depression
• Extreme fatigue
• Sensory or language disturbances
• Food cravings
• Constipation
• Irritability
• Depression
• Extreme fatigue
• Sensory or language disturbances
Migraines may be accompanied by the following symptoms:
• Severe, pulsating pain on either or both sides of the head
• Over-sensitivity to sound, light or smell
• Feeling light-headed or fainting
• Blurry vision
• Nausea or vomiting
• Over-sensitivity to sound, light or smell
• Feeling light-headed or fainting
• Blurry vision
• Nausea or vomiting
Results for non-pharmaceutical treatments have been mixed. Chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, lymphatic drainage therapy and a number of herbal remedies have proven effective in patient studies, but real scientific evidence lags behind.
Many migraine sufferers swear by such plants as peppermint, butterbur, horseradish and even raw potato. The University of Maryland Medical Center published a study of fever-few; over three months, 49 subjects who combined fever-few, magnesium and vitamin B had 50 percent fewer migraines.
Another favorite of migraine sufferers is rosemary. Although it hasn’t been scientifically proven to provide relief, there’s no harm in trying this home remedy, which is also an excellent diuretic.
How to use:
Use two sprigs of fresh rosemary approximately 5 inches long. Finely chop the leaves and place them in a large mug. Add boiling water and allow the tea to steep for 20-30 minutes as the leaf bits sink. Slowly drink the tea while applying a cool compress to your head.
Migraines should be considered a serious disease, but there are measures you can take. Certain foods, alcohol, caffeine and over-exercising are all triggers to migraine. Making significant lifestyle changes—especially in the way you cope with stress—can ward off headaches and improve your overall health.