How Do Excedrin And Other Migraine Pills Work? Plus Tips On Stopping Headaches Fast

by TK Sanders October 4, 2022, 8:18 pmupdated October 4, 2022, 8:20 pm 147 Comments

Migraine headaches affect all kinds of people from all different walks of life. Overcoming migraines is usually a very personal journey for the sufferer; no one tip seems to work for everyone, and much of the struggle only subsides after targeting very specific lifestyle changes.

But as a general rule, migraines are best treated by calming the body and mind, or by blocking specific brain cell receptors that commonly trigger tension in the head. With some simple preparedness and knowledge, migraine sufferers can usually keep the debilitating headaches at bay long enough to develop more personal strategies later in life.

Here are five simple tips to manage migraines on a daily basis (a pill like Excedrin should be the last line of defense)

Find a quiet and dark place to rest. Intense light and sound can irritate a normal headache into a severe migraine. Overexposure to these types of stimuli will almost always make a headache worse. Once you’ve found a calm, dar place to lie, practice some deep breathing techniques by pumping the diaphragm gently. Let the stomach rise and fall, and soon the body’s adrenal response will subside…along with the migraine.

Hot or cold packs can help your muscles relax. The calming sensation of heat will melt away tenderness, and the strength of cold will numb angry muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Wearable heating and cooling packs are widely available, and are a ‘must’ for any migraine sufferer. Bags of rice heated in the microwave or cooled in the freezer will also work in a pinch.

Essential oils use aromatherapy to help calm the mind and refocus the brain into a sense of peace. Learning the specific functions of all essential oils is a lifetime practice, and any migraine sufferer would be smart to undertake that challenge. After all, each unique blend supposedly affects the body in a specific way. But if you’re brand new to essential oils, try lavender scent to calm the mind during a tension headache (it also works great on your pillow before bedtime).

Sleeping well at night can also seriously impact the chances of developing a migraine during the following day. Since migraines often arise amidst panic, frustration, worry, or overstimulation, a good-night’s sleep can safeguard the body and mind from unnecessary irritability. Sleeping well also helps regulate blood pressure, which typically spikes during the onset of migraines.

Caffeine, either in the form of a beverage life coffee or matcha, or in pill form like Excedrin or Tylenol, can stop migraines and tension headaches for some. Caffeine affects the activity of a naturally occurring brain substance called adenosine, which spike during migraine attacks. Doctors also discovered that adenosine, when injected into a vein, can trigger migraine attacks, so some sort of connection exists; but doctors can’t exactly pinpoint it, yet. Adenosine acts by sticking to specific receptor molecules on the surfaces of some brain cells. Caffeine can block the action of these receptors, and, theoretically, stop the effects of adenosine; yet doctors do not know how caffeine specifically affects the migraine, yet.