How to Treat Headaches on the Road

There are plenty of reasons why a career as a truck driver pays off! Count competitive pay, benefits, a flexible schedule, and a chance to get out there and see the country. Still, like any other job, there can be little things here and there that make your day less than ideal. One of the most common downers for drivers (and pretty much anyone else for that matter) is the pinch of an unwelcome and unwanted headache. Luckily, there are plenty of treatments for the affliction that you can employ while on the road. If you give one of these remedies a shot, you should stay feeling good in the fast lane.

Let’s start with prevention.

One of the easiest ways to stave off most minor illnesses is to eat and drink right. This is even truer when you need to maintain focus and energy behind the wheel. Start off by avoiding the types of foods that are known to trigger headaches and migraines. Among the foods known to lead to migraines are dairy products, chocolate and peanut butter. Processed lunchmeat, hot dogs, and bacon are also known to kick start headaches.

Particularly, these foods cause headaches because of their high salt content. Dehydration is a major cause of this problem, and if you aren’t staying hydrated on the road, you’ll feel that familiar pain creep up. Keep plenty of water on hand to help relieve headaches and migraines. While you’re at it, take vitamins high in B2. It’s been scientifically shown to reduce the incidence of headaches. These remedies will make you feel a million times better in all sorts of ways!

If you’ve been eating right and drinking plenty of fluids but still feeling a ting, you may want to try some natural therapies. Essential oils like lavender and peppermint oil have been in use to treat headaches for years. These oils have the effect of opening and closing blood vessels, improving circulation. Their scents also open up your sinuses, helping oxygen get into your bloodstream. Both of these are great headache fighters since poor circulation is one of the most common reasons for migraines.

When you’re stopped, you should work in some old-fashioned stretching. Carefully rotating and working the muscles in your neck can make a world of a difference. You can even try applying hot or cold compresses with a wet towel. In fact, we encourage truck drivers to always stretch when they’re off the road.

Finally, there’s the choice we often reach to first – medicine. There’s nothing wrong with taking some over the counter painkillers to help beat your headache, so long as you follow the directions on the bottle. If you’re used to taking one type of pill often, consider trying a new one. The body builds up resistance to medicine over time.  So for instance, if you’re accustomed to aspirin, try ibuprofen next time. Of course, make sure it’s safe to use along with any medications or treatments you may already be using. When in doubt, a doctor is the first person to check with when addressing headaches or migraines.

So there you have it. We hope you’ve found these headache preventions and solutions helpful!

Ready to move ahead as a Smith driver?

Give one of Smith Transport’s recruiters a call at 866.265.3718 or take a moment to apply online. We have numerous career opportunities for Company Drivers, Dedicated and Tanker positions. We look forward to speaking with you!