A dull ache in the front, sides or back of the head. Pain in your neck. A sensitivity to light. All these symptoms can be caused by headaches, and if you’re dealing with them, you aren’t alone.
It’s estimated that more than 90% of people experience a headache in their lifetime. Often, people will reach for Tylenol or some other medicine to treat headache symptoms. However, if you’re wondering how to get rid of a headache without medicine, fortunately, there are several treatment options that can help.
These four treatments can help you get rid of headaches without taking medication
Even common pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can cause side effects, especially if they’re used too often. You could find yourself becoming nauseous after taking such medicines. Some people might develop rashes; others might even develop the very headaches they’re trying to treat.
Figuring out how to get rid of headaches without taking medicine can help you avoid these and other pain medication side effects. Four treatment options that fall into this category include:
- Easing pressure on the head/scalp — The skin of your head contains a lot of nerves that can sense pain. This means that pulling your hair too tight when making certain hairstyles can lead to headaches. Wearing hats, headbands or swimming goggles that are too tight can also trigger headaches. However, loosening your hair or adjusting head accessories can help reduce or prevent such headaches.
- Chew less — Repetitive chewing movements can lead to headaches. However, there are steps you can take to reduce how much you’re chewing. You can avoid chewing gum. Additionally, you can eat fewer sticky or hard foods until your headache subsides.
- Correct your head posture — Forward head posture (FHP) is a type of poor posture that one study found in about 64% of university students it surveyed. FHP places extra strain on the neck muscles, which can trigger headaches. Making sure you’re using good head posture can help reduce the symptoms of headaches. It can also prevent tension headaches from developing in the first place.
- Attend physical therapy — Physical therapists use many techniques that can reduce headache symptoms. One study shows that a program of physical therapy reduced pain in more than 57% of the patients who used it.
Back in Motion can help you learn how to get rid of your headaches without medicine
Looking for help learning how to get rid of headaches without taking medicine? Our team at Back in Motion Physical Therapy can help. We offer free screenings that can pinpoint issues that are triggering your headaches. Our team can then construct a personalized therapy plan for you that’s designed to naturally decrease headache symptoms.
Want to treat your headache naturally without leaving home? No problem! Back in Motion is currently offering at-home therapy and virtual care sessions that can help you. We can even help you avoid going out to get a doctor’s referral, since we don’t require one to use any of our therapy services.
Don’t wait to start getting our help with your headaches. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.