What is a really good headache remedy?

I have had chronic headaches since early childhood, and I have lots of ways to deal with headaches.

1.) Headaches are often caused by environmental factors. Stuffy, warm, dry air can cause headaches. When you come home from work, take a cool shower, and take deep relaxing breaths. This will hydrate you, relax you, and open your nasal passages so that you can breathe more efficiently. The cool water will also bring down your body temperature a little bit, which can cause blood vessels to shrink. Migraines are often caused by dilated blood vessels which cause pressure in the head. Cool yourself further by drinking a glass or two of icy water. This will further hydrate you and cool you down more.

2.) You may have an allergy. Try first to isolate any potential allergens, such as pet hair, pollen, dust, etc. You may need help from a doctor to do this, so wait until you have exhausted all other possibilities.

3.) Since you have these headaches when you come home from the office, it is possible that you have stuffy sinus passages from the dry dusty office air. You can use Vick’s vapory to clear your nasal passages. You can inhale a little straight from the tub, or get the little inhalers from the drug store. Try using those in the office during the day when you feel your headache coming on.

4.) Do you drink a great deal of coffee at work? Eat candy, chips or junk food? If that’s the case, you can have a headache from the sugar crash you have when you get home. Stop drinking coffee and eating junk foods. Bring lots of healthy snacks like nuts, fruits, carrots etc. It will reduce your sugar intake, and you might even lose some weight (nice side effect)

5.) Drugs are not a good solution in the long term. My neurologist recommends taking Alieve, because it’s ingredients will not be harsh on the stomach, and have no long term side effects. So if you do have to to take something to get rid of your headaches, you won’t be risking liver and kidney damage (Acetaminophen or tylenol) or damage to your stomach lining (Ibuprofen or Advil)

6.) Get a humidifier or an air ionizing fan. When you come home, turn it on, let the air blow onto your face, close your eyes, and just relax for 30 minutes. You’ll feel refreshed even if your headaches don’t go away.

7.) Go see a doctor. This could be an allergen, or a migraine, or stress, or something more serious. It is unlikely since your GP isn’t worried, but you should ask to be referred to a neurologist, so that he can help you deal with other options for your headaches. My neurologist has a psychologist on staff who teaches self hypnosis techniques. Basically he teaches you how to totally relax yourself, and once relaxed, the tension causing your headaches can melt away.

Hopefully one of these solutions works for you. Good Luck.