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Pressure headaches can creep up on you at the most annoying moments. When these headaches are frequent or recurring, your quality of life can be significantly reduced. For a conclusive definition of tension headaches, we can turn to the National Institutes of Health, who say, "Tension headaches are one of the most frequent kinds of headaches. They may happen at any age, but are most frequent in adults and adolescents." Tension headaches most often occur when "neck and scalp muscles become tense, or contract. The muscle contractions can be a response to stress, depression, a head injury, or anxiety."

Relieve your tension headaches

Too much of a good thing

Ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen are some of the most frequent over-the-counter medicines you can take to treat your tension headache. They are simple to come by and relatively affordable. However, the National Institutes of Health warn, "After a while, [these painkillers] do not work as well or they do not relieve headaches for as long." The headaches that result from overuse of painkillers are classified as "rebound" headaches.

The pencil technique

The good news is you may not necessarily have to reach for the medicine whenever you feel a pressure headache coming on. Instead, one Yahoo.com health expert suggests, reach for a pencil. She says when you feel your jaw start to clench, you should "put a pencil between your teeth (don't bite down) and hold it there. This simple strategy will trigger your jaw to relax, easing tension, forestalling the headache, and easing the pain." You may also try employing relaxation techniques like meditation to help forestall the signs of pressure. Or you could always ask a friend for a neck rub.

Sources

Yahoo Health

Medline Plus

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