Tension Headaches

Introduction to Tension headaches

This is the most common type of headache to plague people and quite ironically most of us are aware of it. When you start getting a mild to medium pain all over your head, this is the first sign of a tension headache. Ask most people what a tension headache feels and they will say it feels like a tight band being pulled across their head. There is no clear-cut reason for a tension headache; most of them are just rooted in stress. The best way to deal with tension headaches is to try and live a healthy and stress free lifestyle.

Tension headache symptoms and signs

A tension head can be anything from half an hour to a week. If your tension headaches are very persistent, then you suffer from chronic headaches and this condition can last for years. Some of the symptoms and signs of a tension headache are:

• Insomnia or trouble sleeping
• Tiredness and fatigue.
• Becoming irritated easily.
• Loss of appetite.
• Lack of concentration.
• Sensitivity in scalp, neck and shoulders.
• Sometime pain in jaw or neck.

Caring for Tension headaches

There are some things that you can do to prevent tension headaches from coming on. It doesn’t require a major effort from your end; all you have to do is make a simple lifestyle change. This will not only spare you from tension headaches, but will ensure overall better health.

• Leading a healthy life – it is important for you to maintain and lead a healthy life. Life mentioned earlier, not only will this prevent tension headaches but improve overall quality of your life. To maintain a healthy lifestyle you need to have discipline in life. You need to eat healthy and cut out junk food as much as possible. Also maintain schedules, for food, sleep and exercise. Exercise is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. And if you can feel that tension headache coming on, why not sweat it out and feel it disappear.
• Manage stress – do not let pressures of work or family get to you. Yes life is hectic, but at the end of it all your health matters and not all the money you are making. Distress your life and organize it. When you find yourself faced with a stressful situation and find a tension headache coming on, it is best to relax and breathe to let all the tension slip away. A great way to manage stress is by doing yoga.
• Relaxing your muscles – most tension headaches are because of tensed muscles in the neck and shoulders. Relaxing those muscles will go a long way in avoiding tension headaches. A great way for muscle relaxation is doing yoga. Also using hot compresses on tensed muscles is a great help. Massages are another way to relax bunched up muscles, the best way to indulge in massages is to use the service of a professional masseuse.
• Improving posture – posture is the biggest culprit of a tension headache. We all sit, stand and walk with the worst possible posture. A good posture supports the body and more importantly the neck and shoulders properly. There are ways in which you can improve your posture; to start with you need to stand in a manner that allows your weight to be distributed on both feet. Never carry a bag on your shoulder that weighs more than 2 pounds. While sitting always sit on a straight-backed chair.