WHAT ARE TENSION HEADACHES?
Chronic headaches can be debilitating and interrupt your day-to-day life. They bring on a dull, constant pain that can make your head feel as if it’s gripped in a tight band. Muscles in the scalp and neck may feel knotted and sensitive to the touch. A common source of this pain is muscle tension in the neck and shoulders that may be caused by stress, poor posture, and other lifestyle factors.
This tension headache, also known as a stress headache, is a common type of pain that often occurs on both sides of the head. This pain can either be brief and infrequent or enduring and chronic. More severe cases are commonly misdiagnosed as migraines or sinus headaches.
SYMPTOMS OF A TENSION HEADACHE
Tension headaches are divided into two main categories —
Signs and symptoms of a tension headache include:Dull head pain, tight band-like pressure around the skull, sensitivity in the shoulders, head, and neck, pain is worse in the scalp, temples, and back of the neck, difficulty sleeping, difficulty focusing, and irritability. episodic and chronic. Episodic tension headaches can last from 30 minutes to a week. If your headaches occur 15 or more days a month for at least three months, they’re considered chronic tension headaches.
TENSION HEADACHES VS. MIGRAINES
Although both conditions affect the head, tension headaches and migraines are completely different and will require different treatment methods. While tension-type headaches cause a dull head pain that isn’t typically localized, a migraine can cause intense throbbing or a pulsing sensations that only affect one side of the head. This painful sensation is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and an extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Many individuals who suffer from migraine attacks also experience an aura or loss of vision shortly before the migraine occurs.
CAUSES OF TENSION HEADACHES AND RISK FACTORS
Tension headaches are extremely common and generally caused by tightened muscles in the scalp, neck, and shoulders. There are a few risk factors that could influence their severity and frequency. Some of these risk factors include: Alcohol consumption, smoking, eye strain, dental problems such as jaw clenching, stress, and fatigue..
TRADITIONAL TENSION HEADACHE TREATMENT OPTIONS
There are several conservative methods to treat tension headaches. If it’s a mild, infrequent pain, you might find relief by rubbing your temples or massaging your scalp. You can also try taking a hot bath to relax your muscles and distress. Sometimes applying a hot or cold compress can also fix the problem. Unfortunately, for chronic or severe pain, a scalp massage may only be a temporary fix.
Other familiar treatments for this type of head pain include over-the-counter medications, muscle relaxants, behavior therapies to reduce stress, and acupuncture. Occasionally, your doctor will also recommend taking supplements like Magnesium and Vitamin B-12.
These conventional treatments may help relieve your symptoms, but they don’t address the root cause of the problem.
HOW CHIROPRACTIC CAN HELP: TREATMENT FOR TENSION HEADACHES
Unlike treatments that only focus on the symptoms, Chiropractic care aims to eliminate pain at its source. Chiropractic care providers will conduct a thorough evaluation to target and eliminate the true cause of your pain with a hands-on, manual therapy approach, combined with an exercise plan to strengthen your body and prevent future pain. Chiropractic care can resolve most cases based on patient-reported outcomes, while reducing recovery time and keeping you active.
If an injury or pain is taking the reins of your life, schedule an appointment with a Chiropractor in your area and get back to doing the things you love most, pain free.
