Tension headaches can be a dull diffused ache in the temple, base of the skull or behind the eyes. They interfere with your sleep and often create fatigue and a short temper in dealing with day to day activities. These types of headaches affect a large proportion of the population at any one time.
A vast collection of triggers are involved in the creation of tension headaches – from anxiety, stress,lack of sleep , depression, weak postural muscles , drugs and jaw clenching. Not drinking enough fluids can also contribute to tension headaches. For more on natural headache remedies check out the article on this site.
Tension in the muscles which will affect the joints of the neck and upper back is also notorious for bringing on and perpetuating headaches. If you are having constant severe headaches you should see your doctor to rule out any serious conditions first.
Tension Headache Treatments
The magazine Headache ran a survey that asked one hundred and ten readers with chronic tension headaches what they turned to for their tension headache treatment. It was found that the most popular treatment was chiropractic manipulation (about twenty two percent) next was acupuncture (17.8 percent) and next in line was massage at around 18 percent.
Acupressure/Acupuncture
Acupuncture practitioners study the energy meridians that run throughout the body – there are hundreds. They learn the location and importance of each and every meridian and what organ or muscle group it affects. Then by assessing where you may have energy blockages they attempt to open up these channels via precise placement and insertion of sterile needles.
Tension headache treatment via acupuncture will set you back around $60 to $120 per session. Acupuncture is tax-deductible (it’s considered a medical expense) and some insurance plans pay for acupuncture.
If you are a blood donor you need to check if your acupuncture treatments exclude you from giving further donations. If you are on blood thinners check with your doctor whether acupuncture is appropriate for you. You may need up to 5 treatments to experience the full benefits of this treatment.
Chiropractic Manipulation
By manipulating the joints and muscles of your body chiropractors can bring about relief from headaches along with a range of other health conditions.
You may have a neck joint that id stiff and immobile.Because of this stiffness the surrounding muscles will brace or also stiffen, creating tension and perhaps putting pressure on nerves leading to the head – voila, a headache.
By restoring correct function within the joint via manipulation pressure on the surrounding nerves is relieved.
Side effects from adjustments may include mild soreness. Don’t be scared of the adjustments, they are not painful and if they are successful you may have a resolution of your headache quickly.
Massage Therapy
A gentle form of tension headache treatment is massage therapy.
Massage by a trained and licensed therapist is generally safe.If you have an existing health condition such as blocked arteries (carotid) in the neck, then massage to this area may be dangerous. Very rarely massage can cause bruising or bleeding – but this is very uncommon.
Massage can be very relaxing and promotes better blood flow to tight and stiff muscles. If your tension headaches are brought on by muscular stiffness then this treatment may be just the ticket!
This is just a sample of three tension headache treatment options, there are many more, so go explore.
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