15 Ways to Get Rid of a Headache Quickly
- Cathy Nelson
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Headaches are common, but the best ways to relieve them differ for everyone. Fortunately, you can use several research-backed methods—including many natural remedies—at home to quickly relieve headaches.
However, you should seek emergency medical attention if you have a sudden or severe headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, vision loss, or weakness.
1. Try Self-Massage
Tension headaches are commonly caused by tightness in the face, neck, and shoulder muscles. Gently self-massaging tense muscles around the head and neck can effectively relieve headaches caused by muscle tightness.
2. Use a Cold Pack
Cold therapy has been found to instantly reduce migraine pain by constricting blood flow and numbing the pain in affected areas. Types of cold therapy that may provide relief include applying a cold-gel headband or cap or a cold wrap accompanied by massage.
3. Opt for a Heating Pad or Hot Compress
Applying a heating pad or hot compress to the neck and shoulders can help relax tense muscles, which may relieve headaches, especially if done regularly.
4. Apply Acupressure
Acupressure involves applying pressure to specific points on the body to help relax muscles. Performing acupressure on the area of your hand between the base of your thumb and index finger may help lessen headache pain. You can do this several times a day until symptoms improve.
5. Embrace Relaxation Techniques
Certain practices promoting relaxation can help limit headache pain and occurrence, especially if stress is a trigger. Relaxation practices that have proved to help reduce headache pain and frequency include:
Mindfulness meditation
Yoga
Tai chi
Acupuncture
6. Dim the Lights
Sensitivity to light (photophobia) is very common with migraines. Bright or changing lights are known to trigger migraines and, in some cases, worsen symptoms. Spending time in a room with dark or dim lighting might help lessen pain during a migraine attack.
7. Avoid Excessive Chewing
Chewing gum, hard, crunchy foods, and tough meats like jerky may trigger a headache. In one study, participants with chronic headaches who chewed gum daily saw an 87% improvement in their symptoms after two weeks without chewing gum. What's more, 100% reported their headaches returning in the days after they started chewing gum again.
Experts believe excessive chewing adds stress to the temporomandibular joint in the jaw, causing inflammation that can lead to headaches or migraines.
8. Rest Your Eyes
Eye strain from behaviors like looking at screens for an extended period can lead to discomfort and headaches. Giving your eyes a break, like the 20-20-20 rule, which requires a 20-second break after 20 minutes of screen time to focus on an object 20 feet away, can help relax the eye muscles.
Dry eye or having the wrong prescription glasses or contact lenses can cause eye strain and headaches. Though eye strain is an uncommon cause of headaches, it's best to consult a healthcare provider if you believe it might be a factor in your headache pain.
9. Stay Hydrated
Dehydration is closely linked to headache pain and severity. The research found that drinking 1.5 liters of water daily can improve the quality of life for those with headaches.
Drinking more water during the day can also significantly lower the severity of migraine pain, frequency, and duration.
10. Eat a Nutritious Snack
Missing a meal or going without eating for too long can trigger a hunger headache. Low blood sugar and other factors can cause this.
Eating something nutritious containing protein and complex carbohydrates should eliminate a hunger headache. Eating daily, regular meals with enough protein and complex carbohydrates can also help prevent hunger headaches.
11. Have a Little Caffeine
Consuming caffeine by drinking coffee or tea may reduce headache pain in some people. Caffeine in low doses can also increase the effects of common painkillers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that treat migraine and tension headaches.
However, caffeine withdrawal can also trigger headaches in those who regularly consume caffeine and suddenly stop. Caffeine triggers headaches in up to 10% of patients.
High doses of caffeine (between 400 milligrams (mg) and 800 mg consumed at one time) can cause anxiety, nervousness, tremors, insomnia, or irregular heartbeat. A cup of filtered coffee has about 85 mg of caffeine per 125 milliliters (mL), while caffeinated tea contains about 32 mg of caffeine per 150 mL.
12. Get Some Sleep
Lack of sleep, sleep disturbances, and other sleep issues are common triggers for tension headaches and migraines. Getting adequate sleep can help reduce headache frequency and intensity.
An older study found that sleeping or lying down to rest was rated highly effective in relieving pain in patients with tension headaches or migraines.
13. Consider Supplements
Research shows certain supplements might help reduce headache occurrence and severity when taken over time. They include:
Magnesium
Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Coenzyme Q10
Omega-3
Feverfew
Supplements can cause side effects and interact with certain medications. Always contact a healthcare provider before starting any supplements.
14. Take an OTC Headache Reliever
Certain over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers effectively help with headache pain. They include:
Acetaminophen (1,000 mg)
Aspirin (1,000 mg)
Ibuprofen (400 mg)
Naproxen (500 mg)
OTC pain relievers can cause serious side effects and aren't suitable for everyone. Talk to a healthcare provider before taking these medications if you are:
Over age 65
Have liver or kidney disease or damage
Have a history of ulcers, gastritis, or inflammatory bowel disease
Have cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure
Are pregnant
Are taking other medications, especially anti-clotting medications, steroids, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants
15. Keep a Headache Diary
A diary of what occurred before and during a headache can help you and your healthcare provider determine triggers and possible treatments. Information can include:
The time of day when the headache occurred
What you were doing before the headache started
Symptoms, intensity, and duration of the headache
Any medications you took
Any food or drinks you had in the past 24 hours
Other changes, including weather, menstruation, or stress before the headache
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you experience any of the following, contact a healthcare provider:
Your headache pattern or pain changes.
Treatments stop working or have side effects.
You need to take pain medicine more than three days a week.
Your headaches are more severe when lying down.
They are associated with fevers, chills, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, pregnancy, or a postpartum or immunocompromising condition.
You have neurologic symptoms such as confusion, double or blurry vision, a pulsing ringing in your ears, seizures, or other focal neurologic signs.
The headache occurred suddenly and severely.
It started at age 50 and older.
It gets worse with exertion or bearing down.
Summary
Many natural remedies can help relieve headache pain, and over-the-counter pain relievers are also an option. These remedies often bring relief quickly, although some are designed to work gradually.
Just as headache triggers are different for everyone, so are the best methods to relieve them. Keeping a journal of your triggers can also help determine what treatments might work for you, especially if you get headaches regularly.