Tension Headache Treatment
Treating tension headaches when they are still mild is extremely important. It is the best way to stop further occurrences. Preventing future pain is what we all want but it needs dedication to measures.
Home Care
To rid your head from new episodic tension, take over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen and aspirin. Remember to use them occasionally, over consumption of these drugs will only get you addicted. Your body will require higher doses every time. This will result in rebound headaches from over use. Rebound headaches result from being accustomed to medication. The pain rises when the drugs wear off causing you to crave for more.
If over-the-counter pain relievers do not help, your doctor may prescribe the following:
- Ketorolac
- Naproxen
- Opiates
- Indomethacin
- Acetaminophen
Treatment for Chronic Tension Headache
For chronic tension headaches, the strong painkillers may fail to be effective in some people. Doctors choose muscle relaxants instead or in addition. The relaxants help to stop muscle contractions as they work like antidepressants. Some of the reliable medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). They can stabilize your brain’s levels of serotonin and help cope with stress, which is the source of tension headaches.
Other treatments doctors prescribe are; stress management classes and acupuncture. Stress management classes may take a long time to complete but also come with long term solutions to help you prevent future episodes. By managing stress, you will avoid future occurrences. This is more effective and helpful method compared to direct curative measures such as pain relievers.
Pain relievers do not stop future occurrences of tension headaches yet we are all susceptible to them. Acupuncture, on the other hand, is an effective eastern alternative therapy. The fine needles on pressure points are a quick and verified solution to pain. For a long time, acupuncture has historically been used to eliminate pain on various parts of the body. In this case, the needles will be placed around the neck region and shoulders.
Supplements
You may also treat tension headaches using some supplements. They are known to relieve chronic tension headaches acting as a good dietary alternative. It is however, not wise to use supplements alongside conventional medications because they cause reactions due to poor interactions.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health prescribes the following supplements to help prevent tension headaches.
- Magnesium
- Coenzyme Q10
- Feverfew
- Butterbur
- Riboflavin (vitamin B-2)
Other solutions to tension headaches include;
- Relaxing the tense muscles through taking a hot bath or shower
- Improve your posture to avoid persistent headaches
- Application of a heating pad or ice pack onto your forehead for up to 10 minutes frequently.
- If you work on a computer, take frequent breaks to prevent eye strain
These are some of the practical measures you may maintain at home even though they may not completely eliminate the headaches. To prevent more headaches, you need to work on the triggers. Consider the triggers of your tension headaches and find a way to prevent those issues from occurring.
