Have you ever uttered that exact phrase? Maybe you woke up with a terrible headache from one too many cocktails the night before, or you somehow got knocked in the noggin. Whatever your particular headache history is, you know that when you have one all you want is for it to go away – and fast! So what’s the best way to do that? Well, read on for some headache help!

Headaches – The Basics
45 million Americans suffer from headaches every year, with twenty million women and over twenty-five million men dealing with chronic headaches. Headaches are considered chronic when they happen at least fifteen days a month for several months at a time.

The three most frequent types of headaches are:

• Tension: the most common of all headaches, tension headaches involve a mild to moderate ache or pain along the sides and back of the head, sometimes including the base of the neck. It can last anywhere from a half-hour to several days.
• Migraine: a severe headache often accompanied by flashes of light or blind spots in the vision. Pain can be throbbing and occur on one or both sides of the head. Migraines can be debilitating, rendering the afflicted person unable to sleep or function normally, and are typically four hours to four days in duration.
• Cluster: Cluster headaches come on suddenly and are extremely painful. They occur in groups, or clusters, and can go away for weeks and months at a time before flaring up again. The rarest of the three headaches, cluster headaches affect less than 1 percent of the population.

Headache Relief
When it comes to headache relief, aspirin and ibuprofen are popular and usually effective medications. For those interested in alternative treatments, acupuncture is a centuries-old treatment that is being embraced by modern medical practitioners. Ginger, a proven pain reliever, has been shown to be especially effective in alleviating migraine pain. Essential oils, especially lavender, chamomile and rosemary, can ease aches when rubbed gently into troublesome areas.  Ginkgo biloba aids relief by dilating the blood vessels in the brain and easing head pressure.

If you are troubled by recent headaches, keep a diary of sorts that tracks the day, time and duration of your headaches, including exactly where you felt pain and how intense the pain was. It may also be helpful to record if you were experiencing an unusual amount of stress, ate anything out of the ordinary, or had a recent illness, as all may be related to the cause of your headaches. If you can recognize your own personal headache triggers, you’ll be more prepared to prevent them in the future!