In addition
to causing discomfort, headaches can also make you anxious or depressed
and affect your relationships, your productivity and the quality of your life.
A tension
headache is pain or discomfort in your head, scalp, or neck. Tension headache
is a common type of headache. It can occur at any age, but is most common in
teens and adults.
Here are
the top 10 ways to treat and prevent tension headaches.
Massage
A good
scalp massage for a few minutes can also provide significant relief from
stress-related headaches. It will help reduce stress, ease muscle soreness and
tension, and improve blood circulation.
When
massaging, focus on the temporal regions or the occipital area (the back of the
head) for the best results.
Mix 1 or 2
drops of thyme or rosemary essential oil in 2 tablespoons of warm olive or
coconut oil.
Dab the oil
on each temple and on your forehead.
Massage it
gently into the skin.
Then, sit
quietly for several minutes to let this home remedy work.
You can
also consider a whole-body massage for relief.
Apple Cider
Vinegar
Apple cider
vinegar works especially well for migraines, but it is also effective for
tension headaches. It helps balance the pH levels in the body and aids in
detoxification.
Plus, it
offers anti-inflammatory benefits that provide relief from a throbbing
headache. It is also effective at reducing your stress level.
Add 1
tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to a glass of water.
Optionally,
add a little honey.
Drink this
once or twice daily to prevent as well as treat headaches.
You can
also drink chamomile tea and green tea to help ease headaches.
Peppermint
Essential Oil
Peppermint
essential oil can calm your nerves and reduce your stress level, making it one
of the best remedies for tension headaches.
Topical
application helps relax your muscles and nerves as well as promoting blood
circulation.
A 2007
study published in American Family Physician found that topical application of
peppermint oil may be effective in the treatment of tension headaches.
Find a
quiet place to relax. Massage a few drops of peppermint oil onto your temples,
forehead, and back of your neck. Breathe deeply while doing so.
Alternatively,
you can place 2 wet peppermint tea bags on your closed eyelids or forehead for
5 to 10 minutes.
Improve
Your Posture
One common
cause of tension headaches is muscle tension and tightness. This tightness
occurs all over the head and neck, and poor posture is one of the main reasons
behind it
Improving
your posture can make all the difference in the world when it comes to tension
headaches. Good posture can help keep your muscles from tensing up.
Work hard
to improve your posture, both when sitting and standing.
When
standing, hold your shoulders back and your head level, while pulling in your
abdomen and buttocks.
When
sitting, keep your thighs parallel to the ground and your head facing straight
ahead.
Also, while
walking and lying down, make a conscious effort to correct your posture.
Acupressure
An
alternative therapy, acupressure is also effective at treating tension
headaches. Acupressure is like acupuncture but without the needles. You simply
exert pressures on certain points, which when stimulated can reduce headache
pain.
One of the
acupressure points to reduce a headache due to stress is the drilling bamboo
point.
To find the
drilling bamboo points, look for the points where the bridge of your nose meets
your eye sockets, just below the eyebrows.
B-Complex
Vitamins
Many B
vitamins are involved in the formation of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin,
which may be deficient in people who suffer from migraines. Sadly, millions of
Americans are coming up short on one or more of the B vitamins and this is
causing energy slumps, unhealthy blood cell and adrenal effects, foggy thinking
and headache symptoms.
A B-complex
vitamin includes a group of eight water-soluble vitamins: thiamine, riboflavin,
niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, biotin and pantothenic acid. Together,
these vitamins improve brain cells, circulation, immune function and
cardiovascular health.
Stretching
and Moving
Staying in
one position for an extended period of time, like sitting at your desk or
computer, can lead to body tension and create headache symptoms.
Plus, let’s
face it, many of us spend hours a day hunched over, such as peering at your
smartphone. This position, with your head sticking out, puts an extra 20-30
pounds of pressure on your neck!
No wonder
such a position leads to major tension headaches. An easy way to avoid this
chain reaction is to take a break every 30-60 minutes — stretch and move your
head and neck around in a circular motion. This will relieve the built up
stress and can help in avoiding headaches
Rest
Particularly
if you are struggling with migraines, resting or sitting in a darkened room can
help relieve symptoms and it can be a basic headache treatment at home. Close
your eyes and focus on relieving tension in your neck, back and shoulders.
Compress
When
reaching for a compress, most people begin to wonder whether they should be
using a hot or a cold compress. The answer: either could work for a headache.
Many people with tension headaches prefer using a warm compress, while people
with migraines often prefer cold. Whether migraine fighting or fending off a
tension headache, either, however, could offer pain relief, so if you try one
with no success, you can try the other.
No comments:
Post a Comment