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Treating Tension Headaches: Lighten
Up!
Take just a moment to examine your lifestyle. Are you under a
lot of pressure and stress, either at home, work, school, or
all three? Do you get enough sleep? Do you eat well, or grab
some fast food when you have a spare moment? Are you pushing
yourself too hard? Do you feel angry and/or anxious, or are
other factors causing emotional stress? Most importantly, do
you have frequent headaches?
If you answered “yes” to any or all of these questions, you’re
a prime candidate for developing tension headaches. These are
headaches caused by a completely different set of conditions
that differentiate them from migraine or sinus headaches. The
name given to these headaches describe exactly what causes
them: tension
When you’re carrying a too-large burden of stress, when you’re
tired a lot, when you don’t eat or exercise well, and when
you’re suppressing anger or anxiety, the muscles in your neck
and shoulders constrict and tighten. This is the cause of a
tension headache; the tightened muscles in your upper back,
neck and shoulders cause a throbbing pain centered in the lower
center of your head.
Do you stare at your computer screen all day? Do you get up,
walk around, take breaks, or do you pass the day hunched over
that screen? Poor posture is another cause of tension
headaches, making it obvious that you need to get up and
stretch your neck and shoulders to avoid this type of
headache.
Although not as insidious as the infamous migraine headache,
the tension headache is every bit as debilitating to the
sufferer because, without changes in your lifestyle, you could
conceivably have these headaches every single day! This makes
for an unhealthy and miserable life, to be sure.
What Can I Do to Relieve Tension Headaches?
The best thing is to avoid getting tension headaches in the
first place. You can accomplish this by taking time to relax
during your busy day, stretching your arms, neck and shoulders,
at least every hour, eating nutritious food, doing some mild
exercise that loosens up your muscles, and doing things that
are pleasant for you.
If you feel over-burdened with work, a polite “no, I can’t do
that right now but I can do it first thing tomorrow” is in
order. A physical therapist or an osteopathic physician can
show you some stretches that can not only prevent but also
relieve a tension headache. Remember, you are the determiner of
your lifestyle; if you do things that cause muscle tension, you
can expect unfavorable results.
Prescription medications for tension headaches are available
if, after having altered your stressful lifestyle, you still
have these headaches occasionally. Your physician may prescribe
Midrin, a specific for tension headaches; it combines
acetaminophen (Tylenol) with a mild barbiturate sedative to
help you relax.
Midrin is helpful for many, but must not be over-used. Too much
acetaminophen can cause liver damage, especially if you drink
alcohol. The barbiturate in Midrin, although mild, can cause
physical addiction. Your doctor will instruct you on the safe
use of Midrin and other drugs like it.
In addition, your physician may also prescribe a mild muscle
relaxer like Robaxin or Skelaxin. These drugs are very safe and
effective; they help you relax those tense muscles that are
causing your tension headaches. These drugs also must not be
over-used as they can cause drowsiness, affecting your ability
to drive a car or operate machinery. This is particularly true
of Zanaflex, a more potent muscle relaxer that is known for its
sedative properties and should never be used until you
determine how it affects you.
Tension headaches are always unpleasant, but you hold they keys
to their frequency and severity. Only you can eliminate their
cause; medications do help with your pain, but without a
lifestyle change, the medications are virtually
useless.
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