Tension headaches, also known as spasmodic headaches. Tightness, pressure or dull pain in head, often girdle. As a transient disorder, tension headaches are often associated with stress in everyday life.
Symptoms:1. Headache is localized mainly in forehead, pillow and neck, manifested by constant dull pain. Patients often complain of tightness and heavy pressure on head, without nausea or vomiting 2. Headache may occur on waking in morning or shortly after waking up, or may gradually worsen or remain unchanged throughout day Patients often report that headache does not go away within many years 3. In some patients, migraines coexist 4. In some patients, symptom of "empty pillow" appears.
So, when tension-type headache symptoms appear, how can we alleviate discomfort that tension-type headache brings us, and how can we alleviate its clinical manifestations?
1. Rest in a dark and quiet room
Stress is one of main causes of headaches. Releasing muscle tension can help relieve tension headaches, the most common type of headache. If you have a tension headache, you may also be very sensitive to light and sound. Relax or sit in a dimly lit room. Close your eyes and try to relax your back, neck and shoulders.
2. Try caffeine
Caffeine can help relieve tension headache symptoms and help pain relievers work better and faster. This is why caffeine is often found in pain relievers. Of course, caffeine also causes headaches in some people, so pay attention to identification.
3. Relax to ease pain
Deep breathing exercises and mental visualization techniques can reduce stress and relieve headaches. Take a few deep breaths. Exhale slowly, relaxing areas that feel tense and constricted, and imagine a peaceful scene. Pull your chin to your chest, then gently and slowly move your head from side to side. Take another deep breath and let air slowly come out.
4. Warms cold and relieves pain
Cold and heat can reduce pain and muscle tension that accompanies headaches. You can relieve occasional headaches by taking a warm bath or by placing a warm, damp washcloth on back of your head. Try a heating pad, hot towel, or warm compress. Wrap an ice pack in a towel if you like cold. Then place it where it hurts - on your forehead, temple, or neck.
5. Tension headache relief massage
Massage can relax tense muscles and help you relax, so it's especially helpful for stress or tension headaches. Have someone gently massage your head, neck, and shoulder muscles. Or give yourself a little targeted massage. Gently rub painful area of your head with your fingertips for a few seconds. Rest and repeat as needed.
6. Relax tense exercise
Neck exercises can relieve tension headache pain when head is held in one position for too long. Place your palms on your forehead. Using your neck muscles, gently press your forehead against your palm. Keep your head straight and your arms still to resist.
7. Try acupressure
It can ease your pain. Place your thumbs near base of skull. Where head meets neck, look for dimples on sides. They are just outside thick muscle in middle (about 2 inches from middle). Gently push your thumb up until you feel a slight pressure. While pressing, move your thumb in a circle for 1-2 minutes.
8. Over-the-counter headache medication
Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen can alleviate pain. Medications combined with acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine are sometimes more effective than alone. However, taking headache medication more than 3 days a week can lead to medication overuse. See your doctor if you need medication frequently.
9. Acupuncture
In this form of Chinese medicine, doctors place thin needles into certain parts of body. Stimulating these points can release your body's natural painkillers—endorphins—to relieve neck, shoulder, and head pain. Some studies show that if you get acupuncture for a few months, you can reduce number of tension headaches.
10. See a doctor
If you have frequent headaches or if they last more than a few days, take time to go to hospital for a checkup. Seek immediate medical attention if your headache comes on suddenly and severely, following a head injury or most severe injury you have ever experienced. If you have symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, convulsions, numbness, double vision, dizziness, severe nausea, shortness of breath, or confusion, you should seek immediate medical attention and not "postpone" to delay illness.
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