You’ve saved your pennies and dimes for half the year, put in long hours just to make sure all your responsibilities are covered while you’re gone and then on day two in Europe, you can’t stand to listen to one more minute of the tour guide as your brain is waging a war against your skull as it tries to leave for good. What’s more, at that moment, you’d be glad to let it!
Headaches. No one likes them. And we like them even less while traveling. While I’m no doctor, I have learned a few things over the years to help stave off the dreaded travel headache that can ruin an afternoon or whole seek of a trip. If you’re someone who regularly experiences headaches, chances are this information won’t help you much. I’m sure you have your own arsenal to battle any level of headache. And if you suffer from migraines, this advice won’t help a ton either, but some items might. As with anything chronic, see a doctor, not this blog.
1) Drink Water, A LOT Of Water
I bring it up time and again on this blog, drinking lots of water is one of the simplest things you can do to help your body stay healthy in a number of ways. While on vacation it’s easy to forget this fact and forgo the vital nectar. But if you forget, your body will become quite cranky with you in a number of ways, including a chance for a headache. As your body dehydrates you blood becomes thicker, and that can cause those pulsing headaches many of us get. While there are other factors to this type of headache, thick blood does not help. Think of it this way; which would you rather pump through a hose? Cold chocolate syrup or chocolate milk? More liquid in the system, the easier the pumping.
To that end I always suggest bringing along a water bottle, my favorite being the Klean Kanteen line, made right here in the USA. SIGG also makes some excellent stainless steel water bottles that will take all the travel abuse you or your children can dish out.
2) Pack The Ginkgo
Ginkgo Biloba has been shown to help increase blood flow by thinning the blood. Some people subscribe to taking it every day as a means of general health. With few side effects and thousands of years of historical use, it’s an obvious choice for most when considering safe and easy preventative measures. It can also help when a headache strikes, but won’t have the same kick as high dose over the counter meds. It’s best used preventatively.
3) Get Some Rest
Proper rest can not be understated in helping your body maintain balance. And any headache is an indication of imbalance some place in the system. When you check in to your hotel check out the beds first and make sure they will work for you, and don’t be afraid to ask to be moved if things are uncomfotable. That one little inconvieniece, of packing up after one night and changing rooms, can make a world of difference on your dream vacation. Don’t try to fake good sleep, it doesn’t work. Whether it’s the bed, construction outside the window, drafty rooms or any number of things that may prevent proper sleep, take the effort to fix them as soon as possible. Proper rest goes a long way to helping your body help itself, especially when dealing with the stress of travel.
4) Relax
Yet another in the “Easier said that done” category. I know, I know, relaxing while on a trip may not be that easy, unless you’re vacationing in Mexico and sitting on the beach everyday. In that case, you’re more than a few steps ahead and probably don’t have to worry about a headache, other than from alcohol (see #5).
But if you’re on a trip where there is near non-stop movement with a ton of sites to see, make sure one of those sites is a hot tub or massage table or just a quiet corner of the town where you can let your mind unravel from the day. Further, knowing that you have relaxation time built in often helps diffuse the tension that can lead to a headache. A day full of activity is easier to handle if you know you have a 90 minute massage scheduled just before bed.
5) Watch The Alcohol
Depending on your drinking habits, a vacation may suddenly become a time when you relax with a few drinks. And then maybe a few more. If not balanced with water intake, you can bank on a splitting headache in the morning. It seems so obvious, yet, sometimes it slips our mind. I’m not saying don’t party while on the road if that’s what you want, just remember to pound some water when you’re pounding the tequila or you may have little recourse in the morning other than sleeping until afternoon for a few hours of unremembered fun the night before. And no, I’m not perfect either, I’m speaking from experience.
6) Pack What Works Best For You
This goes without saying, but bears repeating. Grab your favorite drug of choice to combat headaches and make sure you have more than enough for the trip at hand. You might be used to having that 200 capsule bottle at home whenever you need it, but on day eight of your trip, will you have enough? Consider also that you may be giving some to other travelers. If traveling with family, this seems obvious, but don’t forget other people you may be traveling with; friends, family, even strangers.
7) Pack Some Caffeine
What? Caffeine? Why should I pack that? While those with caffeine addictions couldn’t imagine rolling out of bed and not having a quick cup of coffee, those without the hankering might not think about it. Caffeine is a great way to help reduce the pulsing pain from a headache and is much faster acting that ginkgo.
I don’t drink coffee but some of the best advice I got when faced with sudden onset migraines last summer was to buy the darkest drip coffee I could find and pound two cups as fast as I could. The quick infusion of caffeine is meant as a first line against severe headaches for those not addicted to caffeine (and maybe those that are as well). And it works. As coffee is not readily available everywhere I travel, I take along Clif Shot Bloks, the ones with at least 50mg of caffeine each. In a pinch a couple of these will give me the kick I need and they last for a long time.
Do you have a favorite trick, trip or item you take while traveling to help with headaches? Let others know about it by sharing in the comment section below!
