Ouch! That throbbing pain in your head is back—what now? People who suffer from frequent headaches often miss out on many daily activities because they just can’t handle the pain. One type of headache is the tension type headache, which is the most common type among adults. A tension type headache may appear periodically or chronically, and can often last from 30 minutes to several days.

Tension type headaches are typically caused by:

  • Inadequate rest
  • Poor posture
  • Emotional or mental stress (even depression)

Tension type headaches can be triggered by environmental or internal stress, and can be either known or unknown. If you suffer from tension type headaches, there are treatment options available to relieve your pain. Let’s take a closer look at treatment options available.

Treatment Options

A massage is often recommended first if the cause is due to the buildup of muscle tension in the neck or scalp. Over the counter medications can also offer effective relief from tension type headaches as well. You might even want to try a hot shower or bath or heating pad to help loosen the muscle tightness causing the pain. Tension type headaches have also been found to find relief with caffeine because it dilates blood vessels and increases blood circulation to the effected muscle region.

While these treatment options only provide temporary relief, there are some lifestyle changes you can make to help with the prevention of headaches in the future. To prevent future tension type headaches, try the following changes:

  • Change sleep habits
  • Increase exercise
  • Stretch your neck, back and shoulder muscles

Contact Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Center of Georgia for more information on tension-type headaches and available treatment options. Whether you choose over the counter medications, massages or lifestyle changes there is a solution for pain relief.