Treat Common College Illness at Home: Head

If there's one health problem every college student faces, it's headaches. Tension headaches. Migraines. Sinus congestion. Caffeine withdrawal. Hangovers. It doesn't matter what kind it is, they all make you want to throw in the towel and call it a day. Here are a few ways to give that nasty headache the boot:

Tension Headaches:
A tension headache is pain or discomfort in the shoulders, neck, head, and scalp associated with muscle tension in those areas. People most often get tension headaches when they're under a lot of stress or anxiety, or if they sit in one position for too long. This kind of headache causes a pressure sensation all over, like a tight band is around your head.
Thankfully, tension headaches are easily treated at home. If you've been sitting at your computer for a while, stand up, stretch, slowly and gently drop your left ear to your left shoulder, then your right ear to your right shoulder. Then, look to your left and right; next look up, then down. Repeat this a few times as needed, and you should feel your neck and shoulders loosen up.
Another trick I've learned is the art of a good head massage. Here's how I do mine:

1. Spread your fingers along your hairline, then press down as much as is comfortable, and make 30 little circles

2. Move to your temples, and press three finger against each side of your head. Gently make 30 circles.

3. Spread your fingers along the top of your head. Make 30 circles here.

4. Move your hands down to the side of your head, with your fingers outlining your ears. Now you know what to do. 30 circles.

5. Move your fingers to the sides of the back of your neck. 30 circles.

6. Now to your shoulders.

7. Repeat as much as you like. Ahhh, feels better!

My Bed Buddy (Sorry if I look a little grody. I'd just finished a long run :/)!

If you still feel tense after your head massage, try taking 200mg of ibuprofen and applying moist heat to your neck and shoulders. I use a pack called, "The Original Bed Buddy Hot and Cold Pack" I found at a local pharmacy. It's so convenient. I just pop it in the microwave for a minute or two, and I have a warm compress to put on my neck!
Another trick you could try involves a foam roller. You'll just lay on the floor with the roller under your neck and shoulders. Slowly look to your left and right, continuing until your neck loosens up.
When should you see a health care provider?
- if the headache is severe
- if it is persistent
- if it began suddenly after a possible injury
- if you have other symptoms with the headache, such as changes in your speech, vision, hearing, sense of smell, or balance.

Migraines:

According to the Mayo Clinic staff, 

"A migraine headache can cause intense throbbing or pulsing in one area of the head and is commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours to days and be so severe that all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down."

Migraine headaches usually start in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. If this is your first time having a migraine, or you've never seen a doctor for it, you need to go ASAP. It's really important that you make sure that it's not something more serious. You'll be prescribed medications that can help with the severity and duration of your migraine, and maybe a medication to take every day to prevent them from occurring.
With that being said, there are ways to treat migraines at home. These at-home treatments should be supplemental to any medication you're prescribed:
- Muscle relaxation exercises (I listed a few in the tension headache section)
- Get adequate sleep
- Keep a diary to help figure out what your triggers are

Congestion:
Congestion is a pain in the butt, but easily treated. There are a lot of different over-the-counter medications that will help with congestion, and one may work better or worse for you. If you find one that works, stick to it. I've found that Sudafed with pseudoephedrine works best for me, but you have to be 18 and go to the pharmacy counter to get it. Each state has different limits to how much you can buy in a month, too.

If you have allergy-induced congestion, you might want to try a Neti pot. It looks like a little tea pot. You fill it with warm saline and literally irrigate your sinuses. You can find Neti pots at your local pharmacy, and a pharmacist should be able to show you how to properly use it. People who have used Neti pots (myself included) have reported a marked difference in the severity of their nasal allergy symptoms.
One medication I would suggest you avoid/use cautiously when treating congestion at home is nasal spray with phenylephrine in it. It can be used as directed for three days, but after that, continuing to use it can cause rebound congestion. Try using the Neti pot or normal saline nasal spray instead.

Hangovers:
Naturally, the best cure for a hangover headache is to prevent it. Drink in moderation and know your limits. But since we're talking about treating a hangover, here's how you can make the nasty headache better.
If you're hung over, your first priority should be to replace fluids and electrolytes. Alcohol inhibits  antidiuretic hormone, a hormone that helps regulate body fluid volume. When ADH doesn't work properly, you lose water and electrolytes that you need to keep. One of the easiest ways to prevent a hangover is to drink a glass of water for every serving of alcohol. When you're treating a hangover, drink something with electrolytes in it, like fitness water.
If your headache is still throbbing, try taking 200-400mg of ibuprofen. NEVER take acetaminophen/Tylenol and drink, or vice versa. A combination of alcohol and tylenol can cause liver damage and toxicity.


Good luck easing your aching heads! If you have any questions/comments, let me know below, or send me a private message! If you like my post, please like it below, and share!

By the way, in case you were wondering why I'm wearing the button with workout clothes, it's my Old Masters button! Old Masters is an organization at Purdue that brings back 10 celebrated Purdue alumni each year to help inspire future leaders. It's a huge honor to be a part of this 62-year-old tradition, so to show our excitement for the program, each member wears their button at all times. So that's why I wore mine running! If you're interested in learning more about the program or having one of the alumni come to one of your Purdue classes, you can get more info here: http://www.purdueoldmasters.org/.