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Tension Headaches

image of a woman closing her eyes while massaging her temples

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. The pain usually spreads throughout the head so that sufferers feel like they’re wearing a tight band.

Doctors divide tension headaches into two types — episodic and chronic. The episodic variety lasts from half an hour to a week, and recurs for up to two weeks each month. Chronic tension headaches may be continuous and last for hours. If you have the band-around-your-head feeling for more than 15 days a month, for at least three months in a row, you may suffer from chronic tension headaches.

Tension headaches usually correlate with depression, anxiety and emotional suffering. Alternatively, the cause could be physical, such as muscle strain due to a neck injury or abnormality in the cervical vertebrae. Some children develop tension headaches due to eye strain.

Symptoms

Tension headache symptoms include:

  • Persistent dull ache in the head
  • Tender shoulder and neck muscles
  • Sensitive scalp
  • Tightness around forehead, sides and back of head
  • Worsening as the day goes on

Treatment

Treatment focuses on preventing tension headaches and on decreasing pain once they strike. You can take prescription-strength or over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. For non-drug pain relief, try altering temperature. A heating pad or an ice pack might help. You can also try acupuncture or massage.

Some doctors prescribe preventive medicines, including antidepressants, muscle relaxants and anticonvulsants. These help some sufferers, but have side effects.

Given that tension headaches often go hand in hand with anxiety and stress, some sufferers try calming activities, such as yoga, meditation or spending time in nature. Regular aerobic exercise can ease depression and possibly decrease headache pain.

Chiropractic Care and Tension Headaches

Improving your posture might keep your neck muscles more relaxed. A chiropractor can assess your spinal alignment and make manual adjustments as needed. Because many tension headaches start in the neck, your chiropractic doctor might focus on adjusting your cervical vertebrae. He or she might also advise you on ergonomics, relaxation techniques and helpful exercises.

Chiropractic care offers pain relief without the side effects of medications. If you suffer from tension headaches, call our clinic today so we can help alleviate your symptoms.

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Testimonials

Reviews By Our Satisfied Patients

  • "I went to Fay-West with daily crippling headaches, neck pain, and jaw pain/a TMJ issue that was very severe in nature and I thought would never go away. The work that Dr. Tyger and the lovely nurses have done with aligning my back and strengthening my neck has changed my life- I went from having pain every single day to having none at all in just a short couple of weeks, something I didn't know was possible.The staff and doctors at Fay-West are friendly and very knowledgeable. I highly recommend going to see Dr. Tyger (or Dr. Homonai) if you have any pain at all. I promise you won't regret it!"
    Megan Lint / Facebook Reviews
  • "I just completed the Chiro Thin weight loss program and lost 26 pounds in 6 weeks. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to lose weight. The program is easy to follow and really works. The staff at Fay West Chiropractic was always nice and friendly. Dr. Tyger is the best! He was always very supportive and encouraging. I never felt like I was on my own. He was always there to answer my questions and guide me. Thank you Dr. Tyger and Fay West Chiropractic for a great experience."
    Sue Veychek / Facebook Reviews