18 Ways To Banish Your Aches And Pain For Good

Jun 22, 2018

The headache that won't go away. The back pain that gets worse every time you sleep on your stomach. Everyone is familiar with these minor aches and pains, and many people have accepted them as a normal, unavoidable part of life. With a few lifestyle changes, however, you may be able to get rid of physical pain once and for all.

 Sun exposure can exacerbate headaches. That's because the heat of the sun can lead to dilation of the brain's blood vessels, which can result in headaches. The harsh glare of the sun can also irritate the eyes—this can also lead to headaches. If you have to spend time in the sun when it's at its apex, protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses with a high SPF factor.

If you stare at your phone or computer screen for long enough, it can cause headaches. That's because you've overworked the muscles in your eyes. To minimize screen-related headaches, follow the 20-20-20 rule. After you've logged 20 minutes of screen time, find an object 20 feet away and stare at it for 20 seconds.

Like most physical pain, headaches are a result of muscle tension. A warm shower can help relieve the aching muscles and reduce the aches and pains.

A little bit of caffeine can be good for the brain. When you overdo it, your coffee binge can come back to haunt you—in the form of headaches. Because caffeine is addictive, people who consume it in large quantities can suffer from withdrawal symptoms when they don't get their daily fix. One of those symptoms is headaches. So skip that third cup of caffeinated coffee, and be mindful of your caffeine consumption.

Dehydration can lead to headaches. To stave off pain, drink eight glasses of water a day.

If you're chained to a desk all day, it's hard to maintain good posture. If you tend to hunch forward, however, poor posture could be the source of your neck pain. Try to sit up straight, with your shoulder back and your feet firmly planted on the floor.

If you do exercises like Yoga and Pilates, you can strengthen the muscles in the back and neck, relieve tension, and enhance your flexibility. These exercises help to get rid of current pain and prevent it from returning in the future.

While Yoga and Pilates are full-body exercises, people who regularly suffer from neck pain may want to do neck-specific exercises as well. When the neck muscles are stronger, the neck will have an easier time supporting the head, which will minimize neck pain.

People who commonly wake up with cricks in their neck may need to change their sleeping habits. They should try to sleep on their back or on their side, and if they need extra support, they can try elevating their knees with a towel or pillow.

Stretches that target the lower back muscles, like psoas stretches and spinal twists, help to loosen up the tightly wound back muscles.

Back pain is often caused when other areas of the body aren't pulling their weight. If you strengthen your thigh muscles, the legs will be better equipped to support your core when you're doing physical tasks, like lifting boxes or carrying in groceries.

When you're sitting or standing, try to maintain neutral body position. When the spine is straight, it is under less pressure.

When you swim, it strengthens the muscles in your core and back, without putting excess pressure on the joints.

The cobra pose, which is a staple of Yoga, stretches the spine, shoulders, lower back, and core. This helps to alleviate stiffness.

Use a tennis ball to alleviate pain in the arch of the foot. Simply place the ball under the arch, and gently move the foot until the muscles feel more relaxed.

If spending all day in uncomfortable shoes has left the toes feeling cramped, stretch them out. To relieve cramps, interlace the fingers of one hand with the toes of the opposite hand, and squeeze.

Wearing the right shoes is crucial, especially if you spend a lot of time on your feet. Make sure your shoes are equipped with comfort technology, and that they're properly fitted to your feet.

How do you handle your aches and pains? Tell us your favorite tips and tricks and pass this useful article on to your friends and loved ones. 

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!