A bad headache can be a big part of totally trashing your day. Talking to people can be horrendous. You start to get grumpy, not wanting to work or play or do anything but sit in bed and perhaps watch a movie. What can you do about these demon headaches? What causes them, and how can you make them go away?

Headaches in effect come in two types: migraines and tension headaches. Migraines are caused by the contraction of blood vessels in the brain, the result is a buildup of pressure in the brain and the headache pain that follows. A tension is caused by constant muscle tension, usually in the back of the neck and the upper head. It's the relentless pressure and tension in these muscles that causes a tension headache.

It can prove to be quite a job to cure headaches, especially if you have a migraine headache. Some drug manufacturers have released drugs invented particularly to cure headaches of this sort, with mixed results. Some people have great results with one particular drug while others will get no benefit whatever. It's frequently best to try different solutions and dosages to see what gives the most suitable results for you, and it pays to consider talking to your doctor about a prescription headache medicine also.

Fortunately, it's easier to cure headaches stemming from tension, as the cure usually just involves decreasing the amount of tension in the upper neck. Massaging your own neck is often one of the swiftest cures, as is resting your neck if it's usually under stress. Try rolling your head forward slowly, over to one side, then the other. Though rolling your head back can be bad for your neck and throat, it sometimes helps to relax the muscles in the back of your neck. Repeat these stretching exercises a few times, allowing your muscles to relax completely before turning your head again. Drinking plenty of water is also a good way to go at curing headaches, as muscles and ligaments will contract if they're dehydrated.

Pain medicines like aspirin and acetaminophen ought to also help cure headaches, though it's typically more effective to cut off the pain at its source: the muscle tension. Commercial massagers can also help in this respect, as can a kind friend. Lowering the amount of stress in your life is a healthy way to cure headaches, as most people will carry tension in their shoulders and necks when under stress. If you can lessen the cause of the muscle tension then you can completely prevent the problem occurring.