How to get rid of tension headache

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

Knowing how to get rid of tension headache pain can save your day

A bad headache can put a person out of commission. Headaches cause pain in the head, scalp, the face and/or in the neck — and sometimes in all of these places. Millions of people suffer from occasional or chronic headaches; migraine medicine and headache relief is one of the most common over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.

A headache occurs outside of the skull in the nerves, blood vessels and muscles that surround the neck and head. When blood vessels and muscles swell this puts pressure on nerves and the nerves in turn transmit a message to the brain. This is what causes a headache.

Tension headaches are often referred to as stress headaches. They can be chronic, occurring every day, or episodic, which means they occur less than 15 days each month.

The sensation that one experiences when they have a tension headache is comparable to a band-like pain that is unrelenting, as well as pressure around the back of the neck and head or the forehead. A tension headache can be brief or last for several days.

Typically, a tension headache starts out gradually and usually takes place mid-day. A surefire symptom of a tension headache is the tightening of muscles in the back of the neck and in the scalp. Frequently the pain is right behind the eyes.

A tension headache does not affect the sufferer?s balance, strength or vision as a migraine does.

Many factors can result in a tension headache including poor posture, not enough sleep, anxiety, and mental and emotional stress.

There are a variety of over-the-counter pain medications that work quite well for tension headache sufferers but this type of medicine does not help the individual relax, which is what is causing the headache in the first place.

Talk to your physician. Ask if a muscle relaxant or prescription strength pain reliever is in order. However, in time medications are going to lose their efficacy and are no longer going work so it is incumbent upon you to figure out a way to stopped getting so stressed.

There are certain drugs that are considered preventive treatments that prevent an individual from getting a tension headache in the first place. These drugs include anti-seizure medications, antidepressants and blood pressure medications.

Purchase a Bed Buddy. It is heated in the microwave and then put over your forehead or across your shoulders, or wherever it seems that your tension headache is emanating from. This works. Combine it with an Excedrin and you should be able to kick your tension headache in no time flat.

Heat helps get rid of a tension headache because it opens up the blood vessels. Take a hot bath. Soak, relax. Cover your eyes with a warm washcloth.

Try hydrotherapy which involves applying both hot and cold oppresses. First apply the heated compress to the nape of the neck, wait for 20 minutes, and then apply a cold compress to the same area. Repeat.

Go into a dark, quiet room and lie down. Try to relax.
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Massage your temples. Massage the back of your neck and your shoulders. It?s even better if you can get someone to massage you. This works out the kinks and relaxes your body.

Sometimes caffeine is good for getting rid of a headache and sometimes it?s not. Caffeine withdrawal can cause a headache. If you haven’t recently stopped drinking coffee or tea, consider brewing a cup to see if it helps.

Routine stretching is a way to prevent tension headaches from occurring. If you sit at a desk all day long and you know that this results in a tension headache, take frequent breaks. Stand up. Stretch your arms over your head. Move your head in a circular motion to the right and then to the left. Touch your chin to your chest and then tilt your head backward and look at up at ceiling. This helps keep your muscles loose and flexible.

Natural ways of treating a headache include putting lemon juice into a cup of tea and drinking it. You can also pound the crust of the lemon with a mortar and make it into a paste which can be applied to your forehead. This reportedly gets rid of headaches. Some headache sufferers respond well to eating a ripe apple dotted with salt every morning. Do this on an empty stomach.

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Many find relief from headaches by taking herbs. If you’re not sure what to take, check out a trusted herbal website or consult a naturopathic healer to find out what would work best with your body type, headache and other health issues.

how to get rid of tension headache