Tension Headaches
There is hardly anyone who has never experienced at least one headache in their life, so everyone would agree that once a headache strikes, you can think of nothing but how to get rid of it as fast as possible.
Unfortunately, headaches became a regular part of our hectic lives.
Some people have to deal with headaches daily, enduring the pain and annoyance all the time.
Luckier ones only get them once in a while.
Whether you are a regular headache sufferer or have them occasionally, you need to understand tension headaches, learn about risk factors, and discover easy ways to manage your headaches.
Symptoms and Signs
A tension headache is one distinctive type of headache easy to recognize and tell from other types of headaches.
Tension headache is known to occur on as often as a daily basis, and may last from thirty minutes to one week.
The level of pain associated with tension headaches varies from person to person, depending on their perceptions and the level of pain tolerance.
There are two types of tension headaches recognized by the International Headache Society
Episodic and chronic, occurring less than half of one month, and more than half of one month, respectively.
These headaches are often described as bilateral and pressing, and often feel as though there is tightening or squeezing in a band-like pattern around the head and neck.
Tension headache is not usually associated with nausea, vomiting, or photophobia, but the symptoms can vary slightly with each person.
Risk Factors
Tension headaches don’t spare anyone. Some risk factors increase the chances of getting it.
The most common risk factor causing tension headaches is stress.
Stress can be defined as anything that causes a person to react in a way that their body is not used to.
This can be psychological stress, physical stress, or emotional stress. This can also include muscular stress, like lifting weights excessively, or general stress, including lack of sleep and rest.
Females are more likely to experience tension headaches, but males also get them quite frequently.
Age also appears to be a factor in the etiology of these headaches, as approximately 60 percent of tension headaches appear in young adults from ages 20 to 50.
Tension headaches, being quite common and predictable, are comparatively easy to manage and get rid of.
Managing Tension Headaches
There are several ways to relieve tension headaches, but the effectiveness of each method depends on the patient individually.
The most common remedy for headaches is ibuprofen, but it can be rough on the stomach if used too often.
Those who get headaches frequently should choose more natural treatments.
Chiropractic treatment and spinal manipulation have been known to help patients with these headaches almost immediately.
Because of the nature of the headache, the tension in the neck and back, massage therapy is the most commonly used treatment because it loosens up tight muscles often associated with this headache.
Simple and affordable home remedies for tension headaches include placing cold packs for no more than 20 minutes on the affected area, and other methods of relaxing the muscles around the neck.
Each person is different, so your body must give you a hint on the best way to get rid of your headaches.
Listen to yourself and trust your instincts.
