13 Ultimate Health Hacks for Common but Annoying Health Problems

Do you have annoying health problems?

Whether it’s a headache, throat tickle, dizzy moment or you just need to pee, we have solutions to help you feel better faster without a trip to the pharmacy.

1. Cure a throat tickle.

The ear, nose and throat are all connected and as such, one directly affects the others. When you scratch inside your ear, stimulating the nerves, it can cause a spasm in your throat that will relieve the tickle.

2. Stop acid reflux while you sleep.

When you lie on your back in bed, your stomach is higher than your oesophagus, allowing gravity to carry stomach acid back to your throat. If you lie on your left side, your stomach will be lower than your oesophagus and gravity will not aid the flow of harsh stomach acid up to your throat.

3. Having trouble hearing?

Ever had a conversation with someone and struggled to hear them so much you swear you’re going deaf? Try turning your right ear towards them and you will find yourself hearing their speech better. The right ear is better at hearing the rapid patterns of speech, while your left ear is better at picking up music tones.

4. Calm your nerves instantly.

If you’re having a stressful day and struggling to calm yourself, let genetics help you. If you take a deep breath in and splash cold water on your face, it triggers the mammalian diving reflex genetically present in all mammals including humans, which allows you to breathe more deeply and use oxygen more efficiently.

5. Take away tooth and head pain without painkillers.

We have all heard of pushing on the V-shaped webbing between your thumb and forefinger, but according to research, applying ice to this point instead will help relieve face, head and hand pain immediately

6. Need to pee and nowhere to go.

If you are stranded somewhere with no toilet, and has a desperate urge to pee, the best cure is to think sexually arousing thoughts. Aside from preoccupying your brain, those naughty thoughts will also help stop your urge to pee at least for a while.

7. Trouble swallowing pills.

If you struggle to swallow pills, instead of tipping your head back and trying to swallow, try taking a big mouthful of water and the pills and tilting your head forward. The pills will float to the back of your throat to the perfect place to just slip down your throat with a swallow.

8. Stop your world from spinning.

If you’re having a head spin moment, try laying your hand on a flat, stable object. Dizziness is often a result of the brain getting confused by crazy rides, alcohol or other disturbances and the act of laying your hand on a stable surface gives the brain a source of secondary input and helps it to recover quicker. As the nerve endings in your hand are far more sensitive than the ones in your feet, they are far better for this purpose than your feet.

9. Always get a stitch when you run.

This is caused by exhaling as your right foot strikes the ground, this puts downward pressure on your liver (which is on your right side), which in turn tugs on your diaphragm and creates a side stitch. The solution is to exhale as your left foot strikes the ground, though potentially easier said than done.

10. Stop brain freeze.

When the nerves in the roof of your mouth get extremely cold, your body thinks your brain is freezing too and overheats to compensate causing a cold headache. Pressing your tongue into the roof of your mouth and covering as much of it as possible will make your brain freeze subside a lot faster.

11. Be still my beating heart.

If your heart is pounding, try blowing gently on the end of your thumb, this is where the Vagus nerve, that controls your heart rate, ends.

12. Wake up your sleeping limb.

If your hand or arm falls asleep, try gently rocking your head from side to side, numbness and tingling in your hand or arm is often caused by tension in your neck and the gentle rocking will relieve it. If it’s a foot or leg that is asleep, you are best to walk on it, even if painful, as this will relieve it a lot faster.

13. Remember that speech.

If you have a speech or something important to remember, review it right before bed as you are drifting off to sleep. According to research, most memory consolidation happens while you sleep, so the closer to sleep you read something, the more likely it is to be stored as long term memory.

Do you have any neat little tricks for helping with every day health issues? We would love to hear them!

If you become concerned about any symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention. We have some hotlines and suggested websites for further information and advice.

SAHM takes no responsibility for any illness, injury or death caused by misuse of this information.  All information provided is correct at time of publication.