Tension Headache: Symptoms, Causes And Treatments
How to treat tension headaches
Tension headache remedy
What does a tension headache feel like
While it may not be as obvious to others as someone walking on crutches, having to deal with a headache can affect your entire day and prevent you from living your life.
TENSION HEADACHE CAUSES:
Tension Headache Location
Migraine Vs Tension Headache
Tension Headache Symptoms
What Are Tension Headaches? Other Kinds Of Headache?
Tension headache
Tension-type or stress headaches are the most common form of headache. What does a tension headache feel like? Tension headache symptoms may feel like a band is wrapped tightly around the crown of your head, squeezing in and applying pressure to your skull. Tension headache eye strain has also been reported by some patients. Tension headache areas may include a headache in the back of your head, or a headache behind your eyes.
They can come between 1-3 times per week or you could have a constant headache for a few days in a row. Patients sometime wonder can tension headaches last for weeks. When you have been having headaches for more than 3 months, then it can be considered chronic tension headaches. If you have headaches only once a month on average, this could be then considered an episodic tension headache
Migraine headaches
Migraine headaches feel throbby and can include nausea and trouble seeing or sensitivity to bright lights and noise. The headache location will usually affect one side of your face. They can last several hours to a few days
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches are the least common but can be quite intense. With cluster headaches, you will feel a headache behind your eye. You may wake up several times throughout the night. They can last from weeks to months and then disappear for months as well
Can tension headaches cause dizziness or make you nauseous?
This is one way to distinguish migraines versus tension headaches. When comparing the 2, there are some differences. For example, with a migraine, it is often stronger on one side, can be quite severe, you may find bright lights irritating and you may feel nauseous. Tension headaches are more often on both sides, are less intense and may feel more like a tight pressure versus throbbing.
Other kinds of headaches include:
- Cervicogenic headaches
- Occipital neuralgia
- Sinus headaches
- TMJ headaches
Find Out How To Get Rid Of A Tension Headache
Call to get help and get back to what is normal and free from headache pain. Schedule a visit with your chiropractor or physiotherapist to learn more including how to help tension headaches
What Causes Tension Headaches?
1There are two main areas for causes of headache. The first is when you have problems with the pain sensing structures in and around your head. These can include your nerves, blood vessel, muscles and joints found in your skull, head, neck, shoulder or upper back. When there is a problem with these structures such as when they get over-stimulated, this can lead to headache symptoms. 2Another one of the triggers for tension headache may include being due to the effects of another problem or disease happening in your body. These can be from things such as:- Anxiety
- Nose or sinus infections
- Concussion
- Dehydration
- Dental problems
- Ear infection
- Flu or fever
- High blood pressure
- Medication use
- Meningitis
- Stroke
- Tight headgear such as a helmet or goggles
- Tumors
How To Relieve Tension Headaches
When you have a headache, there are several things you can try to relieve the discomfort and pain. Learn how to get rid of a headache.
- Chiropractic care and Physiotherapy: Your North Burnaby chiropractor or physiotherapist at Cedar can help reduce the intensity of your headache and relieve headache pains, especially tension and migraine headaches
- Alcohol: Drinking less alcohol such as red wine may help with your cluster and tension type headaches
- Exercise: Gentle exercises such as neck stretches for tension headache may help ease your symptoms and reduce the frequency or intensity of your headaches
- Food: Some foods can trigger or worsen your headaches such as processed meats, for example hams and hot dogs. Cherries, cucumbers and potatoes are some of the tension headache relief foods that may help. Also, skipping meals can sometimes start headaches
- Massage: Self massage sometimes involves working on tension headache relief pressure points. These can include the webbing between your thumb and index finger or the knots in your neck and shoulders
- Sleep: The right amount of sleep can help keep headaches away. Too much sleep can also worsen headaches, so be sure to get just the right amount, usually between 7-9 hours works well for most people
- Stress: Learn ways to manage your stress levels to prevent headaches from worsening
- Poor posture: Tension headache treatment may include fixing bad posture as this can lead to tension building in your neck and shoulders, causing headaches
- Water: Being dehydrated has been shown to trigger migraines and cluster headaches. Be sure you are drinking enough water throughout your day
- Results will of course vary from person to person
Check out this simple tip here or here to help ease your headache right now
See your family doctor – If your headache worsens, if you have never had headaches, or if your headache does not feel like ones you have had in the past, visit your family doctor to rule out more serious causes of headache. This includes headache where you also have stiffness in your neck, fever, trouble breathing or a rash. Also if your headache is because of an accident or injury
Patient Review
My first experience about Chiropractic – fixed my back and neck problem after four treatments and I recommended my husband to go there, they solved his headache problem as well. Also, the receptionists are very nice and flexible and sometimes help me to look after my little son. We are so glad we came here and did the treatment. Highly recommend
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can my chiropractor help my headaches?
Your chiropractor may also recommend additional exercise rehab or other healthcare practitioners to help you manage your headaches, such including physiotherapy into your treatment
How can my chiropractor help my headaches?
Suggestions on posture and ergonomics may be helpful in dealing with your headaches as well
Does chiropractic treatment hurt?
For others, they may not notice anything at first and it may take several visits before improvements are felt
Learn How To Stop Tension Headaches
Call to get help and get back to what is normal and free from headache pain. Schedule a visit with your physiotherapist or chiropractor for tension headaches to learn more