Tension Headache Treatment
Lasting anywhere between 30 minutes to as long as several days, an episodic tension headache usually begins slowly
Of all the kinds of headaches known to the medical community, tension headache treatment is used for the most commonly reported one among adults. Referred popularly as a stress headache, a tension headache may be either chronic (happening over 15 days in a month) or episodic (less than 15 days in a month). Lasting anywhere between 30 minutes to as long as several days, an episodic tension headache usually begins slowly and happens most commonly during the middle of the day. With pain usually felt at the top, front, and sides of your head, a chronic tension headache will vary in severity, although how severe a headache is will increase in intensity as it becomes more frequent.
At least 30% of the population of the adults in the United States requires tension headache treatment for occasional flare-ups, while about 3% are looking for headache treatment for chronic cases. Of these numbers, women are 50% more likely to experience tension-type headaches (what these headaches are officially called by the medical community) than men.
As with any kind of medical condition, it would be handy to know the cause of the problem before proper tension headache treatment can be dispensed. This way, the treatment offered will be especially suited for the specific headaches cause, which will ultimately make treatment more effective. Unfortunately, there is not one specific cause for a tension headache. It is not genetic and so don't run in the family, but it may manifest when the muscles of the scalp and the back of the neck are tight. Some of the reasons that can cause this kind of tightness include: inadequate rest, mental or emotional stress, hunger, fatigue, poor posture, anxiety, and overexertion.
In some cases though, causes of headaches don't necessarily result from tightened muscles, with exact causes unknown but a general trend towards internal or environmental stressors. Some of the instances that will have you needing treatment for tension headache include: losing a job or starting a new one, not getting enough sleep, having a difficult family life, competing in sports and other activities, not having close friends, and being over-extended.
You're going to start needing tension headache treatment when you start feeling: mild to moderate pressure or pain on the top, front, and sides of your head; headaches coming during the latter parts of the day; some difficulty in falling asleep and staying asleep; irritability; chronic fatigue; mild sensitivity to noise or light; disturbed concentration; and general muscle aching. A tension headache is best treated when its symptoms are mild so don't disregard the aforementioned conditions. The sooner you get a grasp of your condition, the sooner you can have it treated and prevent putting yourself through frequent and increasingly painful headaches.
Typical tension headache treatment will involve preventing further attacks and relieving any current pains felt. Prevention of a headache entails prescribed medication from your doctor, like anti-depressants, muscle relaxants, and pain relievers, while minimizing and avoiding triggers include stress management and relaxation training, home treatments, and biofeedback.
While treatment will more or less involve the use of medications in varying doses, medications won't cure your head ache. Over time, no matter how effective a tension headache treatment is, it will eventually lose its effectiveness. What you should be more focused on is finding your stressor, and then dealing with it accordingly in order to thoroughly prevent your headaches. Without a stressor, after all, there won't be anything to induce your headaches. Stressors are what cause panic in life and so you must learn how to relax and slow down. Different people have different stressors so don't rely on what other people have as stressors but you can use them to guide you in finding yours.
Below is a short youtube video that shows how to use self massages as a tension headache treatment.