Having a headache from a lack of sleep is the worst! Not only is your head pounding, but you’re also exhausted at the same time. The best solution to clear up your headache, of course, is to get some good rest. But there are plenty of other things you can do to help get rid of your headache, or at least make it more bearable until you’re able to sleep it off. If you find that you keep getting headaches, you can try taking preventative measures. But if you can’t get any relief, or if your symptoms are too severe, get to a doctor for treatment.
Method 1 Treating the Headache
Take an OTC pain reliever for mild to moderate headaches. An over-the-counter analgesic (pain reliever) such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen is a quick and simple way to knock out a tension headache or a mild migraine caused by a lack of sleep. Doesn’t want to medicate? You can try Nano Tech Pain Reliever. Click Here.
Try a hot or cold compress to ease the pain of a migraine. A migraine is a much more severe headache, but you can relieve the symptoms by applying hot or cold compresses. Apply an ice pack to your head to numb the area and dull the sensation of pain
Rest in a quiet, dark room until the pain subsides. Headaches and migraines may go away on their own eventually, but you may feel sensitive to light and sound while you still have one. Find a nice, quiet area where there isn’t too much light and try to relax until the pain subsides.
Drink a cup of coffee or tea to reduce migraine pain. Small amounts of caffeine can help treat your migraine pain. Try having a cup of coffee or black tea to see if the caffeine they contain reduces your headache.
Get a massage to help relieve the pain and tension. A massage can help ease your muscle tension as well as reduce your headache pain.
Relieve the pain with acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for headaches without any negative side effects.
Method 2 Preventing Future Headaches
Get enough sleep each night to have fewer headaches. It may seem obvious, but if you’re having regular headaches from a lack of sleep, one of the best ways to prevent them is to get enough sleep.
Get a prescription for medication to prevent future headaches. Not getting enough sleep can cause different types of headaches, each of which respond better to certain treatments and medications. If you’re getting regular headaches, talk to your doctor about getting a prescription to help treat them and stop them from happening in the future.
Use CPAP therapy if you have sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, it can be affecting your sleep and causing your headaches. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy involves sleeping with a special mask, hose, or mouthpiece that keeps your airway open so you can breathe properly while you sleep.
Take melatonin to naturally help prevent cluster headaches. Cluster headaches are super severe headaches that can strike quickly and suddenly while you’re sleeping. If you suffer from cluster headaches, taking melatonin before you go to bed may help improve your sleep quality and prevent your headaches.
Take 40-60 mg of caffeine before bed to prevent hypnic headaches. Hypnic headaches, also known as alarm-clock headaches, are headaches that occur only while you’re sleeping and cause you to wake up. Taking a small amount of caffeine before you go to bed may help prevent the headaches from occurring.
Minimize the stress in your life to prevent teeth grinding. Excessive stress can cause you to grind your teeth while you sleep, which can give you a headache when you wake up. Identify the stressors in your daily life. Try to avoid them or find ways to deal with them that don’t increase your stress.
Exercise regularly to reduce stress and prevent headaches. Exercise is great for your body and mind. It can boost your mood, lower your stress levels, and increase blood flow.
Use a pillow that keeps your head and neck in a neutral position. Tension headaches can develop if your neck and scalp muscles are strained, which can be caused by your pillow.
Identify and avoid foods that may be causing your headaches. Keep track of the foods and drinks that seem to trigger your headaches or make them worse. Once you’ve figured out what foods cause your symptoms, try to avoid eating them as much as possible.
Method 3 When to Seek Medical Attention
Contact your doctor if your headache won’t go away. If you get some rest and take pain medication but you still have a persistent headache, call your doctor.
Go to a doctor if you have a headache after injuring your head. If you suffer a blow to your head and you experience a headache afterwards, it could be a sign of a more serious injury like a concussion.
Seek immediate medical attention if you have additional symptoms. If you have a severe headache as well as additional symptoms such as vomiting, fever, or changes in your vision, it could be a sign of a more serious condition. Go to an urgent care center or emergency room to be evaluated as soon as possible
Get emergency care for headache associated with a stiff neck. A headache and a stiff neck where you can’t flex your neck forward could be early symptoms of bacterial meningitis, which needs immediate attention. If you have a headache and a stiff neck, get to an emergency room right away.
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