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Page 26
| Treatments for Headaches |
| Despite taking preventive measures, almost everyone gets a headache sometimes. Here are some suggestions for immediate headache relief. Ice packs are among the most effective nondrug treatments. The earlier an ice pack is used to treat a headache, the better. Besides applying it to the painful area, try placing it on the back of the neck, forehead and temples. |
| For tension headache. |
| Try heat or ice packs, a hot shower and rest. Take a break from a stressful situation. |
| For migraine. |
| Sleep. Take a nap in a dark, quiet room. Press an ice pack to the back of your neck and apply gentle pressure to painful scalp areas. |
| Over the long term try these steps: |
| Control triggers. See page 35 |
| Keep a headache calendar to help identify those factors that cause your headaches so you can avoid them. |
| Limit the use of pain relievers. |
| If you smoke, quit. Smoking may bring on either a migraine or a cluster headache and increase its intensity. |
| Manage stress. Exercise regularly. However, if physical activity brings on a migraine, make sure you first warm up slowly. |
| Sometimes depression, anxiety or other kinds of emotional problems are associated with chronic and severe headaches. In fact headaches can be an important marker |
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