Tension headaches and a free tension-busting meditation!
Tension headaches and what to do about them
One of the most common types of headache is the tension headache – in fact about half the population has experience with them. Tension headaches can be incredibly painful, annoying and debilitating, especially when they are frequent. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to prevent and treat them.
So what is a tension headache?
It is usually a headache that feels like non-pulsing pressure or tightness, on one but usually both sides of the head. It is usually associated with stress, and you may feel more on-edge than your usual self. You might also have some other associated symptoms, such as noise sensitivity and a tight neck.
Why do tension headaches happen?
This is a surprisingly complicated question. Tension headache is a primary headache – which means it doesn’t have any other known cause. A better name for it might be musculoskeletal headache, but this hasn’t been definitively proven. Some known contributors to tension headache are: Stress (funnily enough…) and its effects on the body Tension in neck and jaw muscles Eye strain or jaw pain
If its not a tension headache, what could it be?
Migraine without aura, also called common migraine, is experienced by about 10% of people, and more frequently in women.It differs from tension headache in that it usually happens on 1 side of the head, throbs with the pulse, and is often accompanied by some other ‘weird’ symptoms. These can include sensitivity to light, visual disturbance, sensitivity to smell and other strange sensations and feelings.
Prevention is better than cure in the long run
There are a few easy things you can do to try to prevent tension headaches from occurring. These include reducing physical stress on your body: Set your computer workstation up so the monitor is a comfortable distance away and slightly below your eye level. Limit aggravation from hats, goggles or tight hairstyles. Make sure your eyesight has been checked, and update if its time! Avoid holding your phone between your ear and shoulder. Make sure you’ve drunk enough water – if you’re unsure, have a few glasses and see if it helps!
This also includes reducing your stress overall. Exercise is by far the most effective method for reducing stress and managing anxiety. It doesn’t even really matter what sort of exercise it is, as long as you are moving your body. Meditation and yoga are often thrown around as stress relief, and they are worth a try, but if you personally find it aggravating then find another way to release tension. You could try art or craft, cooking, martial arts, walking in nature – anything you find relaxing really!Treating tension headaches
- The quickest, and easiest thing to try first is having a few glasses of water.
- Massage and trigger point therapy have shown to be successful in treating headaches, and our therapists would love to help you out.
- Pain killing medication may be effective, you should always talk to a pharmacist before taking any new medication.
- Cold or heat on your head and neck may be effective. This one really comes down to personal preference. Some people shudder at the thought of putting an ice pack on, while other find great relief from a cool washcloth on the face. Give both a try and see which you respond to.
- Have a rest or a sleep, if possible. We are much more sensitive to pain when we are sleep deprived.
- Breathing exercises, such as this short, tension-busting meditation:
Keep an eye out for our headache checklist – coming soon!
If you would like to speak to someone about your headaches, you can Book Online Now with one of our therapists. You might like to see Courtney, who has a special interest in treating Headaches.