For those of you who suffer from headaches frequently, you may find this interesting. As you know, it is difficult to function when you are experiencing a headache. Some can cause nausea, vomiting and you have a light sensitivity which is called a migraine. This can last for days, and many women have them around the time Aunt Flo is coming to visit, or when menopause is approaching. It is usually a hormonal unbalance.

For the rest, who suffer less painful headaches, there are some simple home remedies to relieve your pain.

Photo above by You-Did

First off, here are some possible causes for a headache.

Dehydration

One of the first symptoms of dehydration is the onset of a headache. This is something you could experience after a workout, or when the weather is extremely hot. If that happens to you, replenish your body with water and your headache will go away.

Eyestrain

Eyestrain is another major cause of head pain, especially for those of us who work long hours on the computer on a daily basis. One way to prevent these headaches is to take a short break every hour for a few minutes. Your work isn’t going to go anywhere and you will be able to work more efficiently by doing so. You could use the time to do something which doesn’t involve visual concentration. Here are some symptoms that a headache is on the way, caused by eye strain:

1. Rubbing of eyes
2. Excessive blinking
3. Inefficient reading
4. Difficulty in keeping place
5. Blurred double vision
6. Dry eyes
7. Sore neck
8. Difficulty shifting focus between monitor and paper documents in your work area
9. Increase sensitivity to light
10. Watery eyes

Muscle Cramps

Very often, headaches are caused by strained muscles in the neck and head. Sometimes, making a few minor changes to your work area may help. Like making sure your monitor is at the correct eye level and distance.

This is usually about 20 to 28 inches away from your eyes. You can also use the length of your arm to measure this. Try increasing the font size and adjusting the contrast and brightness on your monitor. Dark font on a white background is recommended to be the best color combination for your eyes. Notice the best setting for you if you tilt your head frontwards or backwards to read the screen.

Keep your keyboard directly in front of the monitor, so you don’t have to slide your eyes and focus at different angles. Use a document holder at the same level, also to avoid having to refocus.

Good lighting is very important because you do not want glare. To check for glare, switch your monitor off. You can see the reflected light images and see where it is coming from. Usually, the source is above or behind you. The brightest light should be coming from the side at a right angle. Close the shades on your windows, and avoid having your computer in front of a window or a white wall. And do dust your screen off every day!

Avoid Headaches With This Technique For Your Eyes

Exercise (relax) the eye every twenty minutes by looking into the distance, away from the computer screen. This relaxes the focusing muscles inside the eye. Try this exercise for about ten to fifteen seconds, then focus on something close for the same amount of time. Also alternate this exercise while you take a break.

The thing is: computer vision syndrome is a problem for many of us today. For those who regularly have drinks that contain caffeine, you understand these withdrawals and caffeine effects - but the truth is, coffee constricts the blood vessels that have been dilated around the skull, thus causing the pain.

My fiance is one of those people, he cannot function until after he has his first cup of java in the morning. He is very tired most of the time. He also sits for several hours, working on the computer, and complains of a dull headache that radiates down the from the top of his head. He sometimes will wake up in the morning, saying he feels like he has a nebula on top of his head.

More Tips To Avoid A Headache:

1. If you drink caffeine, have a coffee or tea when you feel a headache coming up.
2. Stand up and stretch. Walk around a little each hour.
3. Blink often to refresh your eyes.
4. Use eye drops or artificial tears.
5. Practice relaxation!

Also, there are many home treatments and a whole lot of alternative medicine, called homeopathy.

I hope the above tips help you a little with headaches and migranes. Maybe you have found a good way to avoid them that I haven’t mentioned?