The two most common types of headaches are tension and vascular. Tension headaches affect about 90 percent of us and vascular headaches (such as migraines) are less common. Headaches vary for each individual so relief will depend on the symptoms and causes of the headache.
Use heat
A hot water bottle or heating pad applied at the first sign of a tension headache can help tight muscles to relax.
Relax
Take time to relax the muscles that are squeezing your head into an ache.
Try an analgesic
Aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen are proven relief for headaches but should only be used for occasional headaches and not repeatedly.
Try ice
At the first sign of a migraine, try an ice pack or gel pack, which constricts the swollen blood vessels.
Heat your hands
Lie down, relax and concentrate on directing blood flow from the swollen area in your head down into your hands.
Feel your hands getting warmer and warmer with the increased blood flow.
The blood vessels in your hands are expanding while the vessels in your head are shrinking.
As the vessels shrink the pain subsides and will soon be gone.
Practice regularly to master the technique.