Three Tips for Reducing Tension Headaches

It's believed by many doctors that tension headaches are the second most common types of headaches, right behind migraines. While you can take headache relief, sometimes it's best to consider how to treat tension headaches at the source. That is, you may want to think about addressing the actual tension itself rather than simply trying to get rid of the resultant headache.

Here are some headache tips and pointers to consider.

Time for a New Perspective on Problems?

Sometimes an attitude adjustment can also be in order. It's very easy to dwell on things that we wish were different about our life, our partner, our job, our looks, or anything else. This obsession with so-called imperfections can be bringing on those tension headaches as we get upset and irritated at what we want to be different. This isn't meant to chastise anyone, but sometimes we all need to work on accepting the things in our life that aren't going to be different and to develop that "attitude of gratitude" that's often talked about. Dwelling on the negative is just going to cause more tension headaches as we get locked in that eternal struggle over what we want to change; and when it doesn't change, we get even more upset and irritated. But learning to accept certain things and learning how to be appreciative of the positive can cut down on those tension headaches and bring about a more positive outlook overall.

Exercising Regularly

Of course there are times when none of these things will work to ease those tension headaches. In some cases it's good to consider regular exercise, taking care of one's health, and doing things like volunteer work to help encourage a better attitude overall.

In a recent study article on http://www.sciencedaily.com/ said that exercise was helpful for migraine sufferers.

The report stated:

"We could see that those who participated in the study were much fitter after the training period, since their ability to absorb oxygen increased considerably," says physiotherapist Emma Varkey, one of the researchers behind the study.

"Only one of the patients suffered a migraine attack that was directly linked to the training session. "Now that we've been able to show that the risk of increased frequency of attacks in connection with this type of exercise is extremely small, we can study whether exercise can be used to prevent or alleviate migraine attacks. "We have already initiated a new study in which we plan to compare the results against a control group," says Mattias Linde, neurologist at Cephalea Headache Centre and researcher at the Sahlgrenska Academy."

How We React To Problems

Everyone has problems and stresses but not everyone gets tension headaches; ask yourself why your concerns may be creating such pain for you above your neck. Often it's not just the problems themselves but how we react and respond to them that causes headaches and specifically tension headaches. One such reaction is the feeling of being helpless against these problems. What can help in this regard is to take the time to sit down and come up with a "plan of attack" for how the stresses or concerns can be addressed. If you're job is suffering, make a plan for how you can change it or learn a new skill. If you're afraid for your finances, it's time to work up a budget and to start recording every dollar you spend. Sometimes doing this won't actually solve your problem, at least not right away, but just attacking your problems can make you feel less helpless and therefore ease your tension headaches as well.

Still Suffering After Trying This

And if all these things don't work, it might be time to see a doctor about your tension headaches. He or she can recommend certain medications or other treatment options that are available.