What triggers tension-type headaches?
Causes. Tension headaches occur when neck and scalp muscles become tense or contract. The muscle contractions can be a response to stress, depression, head injury, or anxiety. They may occur at any age, but are most common in adults and older teens.
How do you relieve tension headaches?
Tense muscles can trigger tension-type headaches. Apply heat or ice to relieve tense neck and shoulder muscles. Use a heating pad set on low, a hot water bottle, a hot shower or bath, a warm compress, or a hot towel. Or apply an ice pack (wrapped in a cloth) or a cool washcloth across the forehead.
How do you differentiate between a migraine headache and a headache that requires further investigation?
Headaches cause pain in the head, face, or upper neck, and can vary in frequency and intensity. A migraine is an extremely painful primary headache disorder. Migraines usually produce symptoms that are more intense and debilitating than headaches. Some types of migraines do not cause head pain, however.
What type of massage is best for tension headaches?
Which Massage is Best for Tension Headaches. Deep tissue and Swedish massage can both work wonders for tension headaches. There are also special techniques, such as trigger point therapy and facial massage, that can complement any type of therapeutic massage.
Are tension headaches serious?
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. These headaches often cause mild-to-moderate pain around the head, face or neck. They usually don’t cause other symptoms (like nausea or vomiting). Healthcare providers generally don’t consider tension headaches to be dangerous.
Where is a tension headache located?
Tension headaches are dull pain, tightness, or pressure around your forehead or the back of your head and neck. Some people say it feels like a clamp squeezing their skull. They’re also called stress headaches, and they’re the most common type for adults.
Where do tension headaches hurt?
Signs and symptoms of a tension-type headache include: Dull, aching head pain. Sensation of tightness or pressure across the forehead or on the sides and back of the head. Tenderness in the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles.
Can a chiropractor cure tension headaches?
Tension headaches are the most common type and appear as pain almost anywhere in the head, scalp, or neck. As tension headaches are often due to a combination of stress and back or neck strain, chiropractic care has been proven to help provide relief for these headaches.
How does a tension headache feel?
A tension-type headache (TTH) is generally a mild to moderate pain that’s often described as feeling like a tight band around the head. A tension-type headache is the most common type of headache, yet its causes aren’t well understood. Treatments for tension-type headaches are available.