Tension Headaches

Causes
Tension headaches can be triggered by stress, neck strain, missed meals, depression, anxiety or lack of sleep.

Symptoms
Tension headaches cause a feeling similar to a tight band around your head and/or mild to moderate pain on both sides of head. They can be occasional or may occur more than 15 days a month. They can last from 30 minutes to a week

Treatment
OTC medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen. Goody’s® Extra Strength Headache Powder utilizes the combination of aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine to combat headache pain.

• Reducing stress may also help individuals deal with symptoms.
• Meditation, relaxation training, massage, and heat therapy can help with tension headache pain.

As you can see above, understanding your headache triggers is essential when it comes to managing chronic headaches, regardless of the type of headache you experience most often. Many healthcare providers recommend balancing headache medication with lifestyle changes and helpful activities such as stress management, biofeedback, and exercise programs.

Medical Encyoclopedia – Cluster Headache. MedlinePlus Web Site. Available at:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000786.htm Accessed August 22, 2016.

Medical Encyoclopedia – Tension Headache. MedlinePlus Web Site. Available at:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000797.htm Accessed August 22, 2016.

NINDS Migraine Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Web Site. Available at:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/migraine/migraine.htm Accessed August 22, 2016.