"Over the counter painkillers can help ease the pain, but rehydrating should be your first approach. "When you’re dehydrated, your brain temporarily contracts as a result of not having enough fluid, which can result in a headache," says Dr Powles. It’s an oldie, but a goodie: drinking enough water keeps (some) headaches at bay. In terms of treatment, he recommends: "correcting your posture, neck exercises and physiotherapy may help." "Poor posture that puts strain on the neck, while whiplash and general wear and tear of your upper spine can both cause headaches along with neck pain, says the doctor. Headaches at the back of the head or neck "Treatment will depend on what is causing the pain, but if you’re unsure and suffering from long-term or severe headaches behind the eyes, speak to your doctor."ģ. "Pain behind the eyes can be a symptom of a number of different of types of headaches including tension headaches, cluster headaches, migraines, or eye problems," says Dr Powles. "If you’re still experiencing regular or long-lasting symptoms, then talk to your GP – they’ll be able to explore what factors could be contributing to your headaches, such as lifestyle and stress levels."ĭepending on the severity of pain, a headache behind the eyes can come as part of a number of different headaches, and is very common. "Other tips to ease the pain include lying down in a dark, quiet room or putting a hot flannel on your forehead and neck," advises Dr Powles. Your run-of-the-mill, over the counter painkillers are the best way to treat tension headaches. "If you’re stressed, haven’t had enough sleep or you’re hungry, you may notice a tension headache coming on." "People often say it feels like a band around their head," says Dr Powles. Tension headaches are actually the most common type of headache, usually felt as a constant ache on both sides of the head, behind your eyes or, sometimes, your neck. Dr Luke Powles, Lead GP at Bupa Health Clinics, breaks down the many different types of headaches for us - from what they’re trying to tell you to how best to treat them. That said, not all headaches were created equal, and there are in fact many different types and causes – did you know, for example, that your bra could be giving you headaches?ĭifferent headaches can tell you different things about your health, so we grilled an expert to find out what separates a tension headache from a cluster headache or a migraine. (If you haven’t, please know that I, and all headache sufferers, are eternally jealous).
I’m going to take a wild guess and say that almost everyone reading this has had a headache at some point.