HEADACHES

Tension headaches are very common in this day and age, amongst most individuals and students, who spend a lot of time on the computer or reading. Certain contact sports and heavy physical workouts can also cause these headaches at times related to muscular tension. Posture is often to blame as well. High stress levels may also contribute to tension headaches

SYMPTOMS OF TENSION HEADACHES

• Persistent or recurring head pain, pressure or soreness that is steady (but not pulsating) around the head region and the back of the neck and shoulders. It can be moderately severe and may feel as though there is a band of pressure tightening around the head area.


• The pain tends to be on both sides of head (bilateral)but can be unilateral or one - sided as well, and headaches last anywhere from a few hours to days.


• The headaches may be more frequent during periods of stress or exams.

WHO IS AT RISK FOR TENSION HEADACHES?

Virtually everyone suffers a muscle-tension headache at one time or another. They are especially common among people whose job entail holding their head in one position for long time, such as computer operation, operating heavy machinery, studying for prolonged periods of time and of course high levels of stress can also cause tension headaches. Patients who have suffered from whiplash injuries often get tension headaches as well.

HOW DO TENSION HEADACHES DEVELOP?

Tension in muscles can cause head pain due to prolonged muscle contractions in the neck and shoulders. It can be compared to having a muscle cramp, in which the tightened muscles go into a spasm. The pain often develops over the eyes or back of the head and may spread to neck and shoulders, as referred pain. People who offer suffer from migraines are also often prone to getting tension headaches as well.

WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR TENSION HEADACHES?

Try massaging the temples and back of the neck., if the headache comes on while you are hunched over a desk or driving, take a break. Stretch, rotate your neck, and hand, and then just sit quietly for a few minutes with your eyes closed and your thoughts focused on a relaxing image. If the headache persists, lie down in a quiet, dimly lit room with a cool compress on your headache, and your doctor cannot find a medical cause for them, examine the sources of stress in your life and see what you can change. A warm compress with some lavender essential oil quite often does the trick as well.

You can also try some reflexology for the tension headache: Place one index finger at a point midway between the eyebrows and the other directly in the middle on the top of the head. Apply moderate pressure simultaneously with both fingertips, hold for 5 seconds, relax for 30 seconds and repeat. Three sets should help ease the pain.

Alternatively, grasp the center of the soft pad of tissue between the thumb and the first finger with the thumb and index finger of the other hand, also known as the large intestine 4 or LI 4 for acupuncture, apply pressure with the thumb for 5 seconds, and repeat. Reflexologists recommend massaging the big toe as a substitute for a neck and back massage.

HOW TO MEDICALLY TREAT TENSION HEADACHES?

Most times, a medical doctor will prescribe Non-prescription painkillers such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or low-dose ibuprofen—and other prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve muscle-tension headaches.

HOW TO PREVENT TENSION HEADACHES?

The best way to prevent muscle-tension headaches is to identify and eliminate the contributing causes. Most muscle tension headaches are related to stress, which causes the muscles to contract and stimulate nerves to send pain messages to the brain. Other contributing factors include eye strain, faulty posture, anxiety and other mood disorders, excessive alcohol intake, and fatigue.

NATUROPATHIC APPROACH TO TREATING TENSION HEADACHES

Once the root cause for your tension headaches is established with our naturopathic doctor, the naturopathic treatment approach and preventative measures will include a combination of therapies including:

Lifestyle changes and Stress Management

Our naturopathic doctor may recommend supplements, vitamins or herbs, changes in diet, stretches and other exercises to work in conjunction with adjunct therapies to help you regain health prevent future problems. She might suggest some simple therapies you can do at home such as:

1. Aromatherapy
   

   Essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, peppermint, wintergreen, and juniper berry are great for headaches. The diluted oils can be massaged into the skin or added to steamy bathwater, or the vapors can be inhaled from a few drops sprinkled on a handkerchief.

2. Meditation & Yoga
   

   Meditation and yoga promotes relaxation and also helps block the transmission of pain messages.

3. Posture-correction exercises
   

   Faulty posture can cause headaches, especially if the head and neck are held in awkward or unnatural positions for prolonged periods of time. Our naturopathic doctor or massage therapist will suggest exercises and stretches specific for posture based on your health concerns and to accommodate your lifestyle.

4. Acupuncture
   

   Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can be a safe and effective form of treatment for patients with headaches, migraines and neck pain. Acupuncture works well to relieve tension and pain, and since headaches are quite often chronic, and single treatments may be inadequate, acupuncture merits strong consideration when it comes to treating headaches in general.

   The treatment will generally be forty- five minutes to an hour in duration, in a very relaxing environment with aromatherapy and infrared heat.

5. Massage Therapy

   Our registered massage therapist is highly trained in treating musculoskeletal issues and injuries. She offers relaxation and deep tissue massage for acute and chronic pain syndromes and issues. Massages for neck, shoulders, back and temples is a time- honored treatment to relax tensed muscles and relieve headaches. Deep, pressure- point massage usually produce longer-lasting results than gentle, more superficial of pain massages.

Please ask your doctor or naturopath before starting on any supplements. Its is better to first identify the cause and then treat it with the right remedies, even though those mentioned above have minimal side effects.

To schedule an appointment with our naturopathic doctor please contact us at 416 913 4325 (HEAL) or email us at [email protected] Most of our naturopathic and massage services are covered by extended health insurance plans.

* DISCLAIMER: The information on this article is the property of Dr. Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, and is not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any diseases or promote any services or products mentioned on the website.