Migraines and headaches can be extremely painful, stopping you going about your day to day life, and for many people, they can be pretty common. Generally, they are more common in women than in men, and severe cases can even leave people bed bound until the pain has passed. A migraine tends to occur on both sides of the head at the same time, lasting up to 72 hours. In addition to the head pain, a migraine can also lead to a range of other symptoms including a sensitivity to light and sound, also known as photophobia and phonophobia, nausea, and vomiting. In addition to these more common symptoms, it is also not unusual for people to experience a range of other symptoms, such as stomach pains, diarrhea, a lack of concentration or feeling unusually hot or cold.
Headaches are a common problem, but as those that suffer from them will know, a migraine is much more severe. Many people will find the concept hard to understand unless they have suffered from a migraine themselves before. In severe cases, people can suffer with them several times a week, although usually, they are not this frequent. It is thought that one in every five women and one in every 15 men will suffer from a migraine. Everyone suffers differently, so it is not unusual for some people to also feel the pain in places such as the neck and face.
When a migraine starts to occur, many people try to cure it with analgesics to treat the pain in the head and anti-emetic to treat nausea. Although these methods are often pretty effective, you may be surprised about just how effective a natural approach to treating this pain can be. Although medication is a proven way to treat and prevent migraines, it is also vitally important that you are keeping good care of yourself and understanding how you can deal with a migraine if and when it occurs.
Hot Tubs for Pain Relief
If you feel the pain of a migraine starting to creep in, why not head to a spa or a hot tub? When you get in, the water should be at a steady temperature of between 102 and 104 degrees, and this comforting feeling may help you to feel less stressed, and relieve the tension that may be causing the migraine in the first place. To help you relax, you could try closing your eyes (just try not to fall asleep) and keeping your mind clear, as the darkness can help to deal with your possible sensitivity to light. You can’t always control a stressful situation, but you can control how you react to them, so if you can, try to make the situation less stressful. Other relaxation techniques in addition to using the hot tub include meditation and yoga. Just ensure that you have sought the opinion of a medical professional before using the hot tub as a relief for a migraine.
Stress and migraines tend to go hand in hand, so measure your time wisely, take a break when you need it, stay positive and make sure you find time to simply enjoy yourself.
Hydrotherapy Massage
When we get stressed, our body tends to tense up, which won’t help with the headache at all. A massage therapist may be able to help with this, as a massage can help to loosen up those tense muscles and help you relax, providing some relief from the migraine that you have. If you don’t have the time or the funds for a massage, a hot tub could do the job.
The power of the jets on the shoulder and back of the neck can help to relieve the pain of the headache, although just be sure not to fall asleep or stay in the tub for too long. Even if the soak doesn’t remove the symptoms of the migraine, at the very least a hydrotherapy massage is likely to relax you, enabling you to get a better night’s sleep.
In addition to using the spa to relax, it is also very important to stay hydrated. It is not uncommon for the nausea element of a migraine to stop you wanting to eat or drink anything, but this could make the pain worse. Experts say that keeping a steady amount of water in your system can help you avoid migraines, so if you can you should steadily sip on water throughout the day, and you may begin to feel the symptoms starting to subside.
For many people, owning a hot tub is just a bit of luxury, it can be a lovely way to spend time with friends and family while enjoying the soothing sensation of the water and the warmth. Others, however, will use it to benefit their health. No matter how or why you use a hot tub, it is essential to ensure that you are using it properly, and the chemicals and temperature are properly monitored. You should never use a hot tub for too long, and if using it for health reasons, a doctor or other health professional should first be consulted.
Next time you have a migraine, instead of relying solely on forms of medication, you could also try some of the relaxation techniques that have been outlined in the article to see if they help to alleviate any of the symptoms.
