Tension Headaches: Causes, Symptoms, And Natural Treatment Options

27 July 2015 by Carlos Butler

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, but typically they are nothing you should be worried about. They are not usually caused by an underlying health issue; however, they can be frustrating and painful. If you experience these often, you may be interested in finding a way to get rid of them without medication. Here are two things you should understand about tension headaches.

What are the symptoms and causes?

Tension headaches usually cause pain around the top of the head, neck, and shoulders. These headaches can appear daily or numerous times a week, and they typically worsen when a person is exposed to a lot of stress.

Up to 80% of adults in the U.S. suffer from tension headaches, and women have a higher chance of experiencing them than men. In many cases, the cause of tension headaches is due to tightness in the muscles of the neck. Tightened muscles prevent nerves from functioning properly, and this is often the reason people suffer from tension headaches.

How can you naturally treat them?

Treating tension headaches is something you can do naturally, but it should begin with these two things:

Improving your posture – Posture is a leading cause of tightened muscles. If you can improve the way you sit, stand, and carry yourself, you might naturally be able to relieve stress on the muscles in your head and neck. If you work at an office job, you may want to update your equipment to ergonomic equipment, which is designed to promote good posture.
Reducing the stress in your life – Because stress causes tension headaches, it might be wise to find ways to get rid of some of your stress. This could involve seeking help from a counseling center, solving unresolved issues in your life, or finding a new job.

In addition to these steps, another good way to naturally treat tension headaches is by visiting a chiropractor. While this will not change the situations and stress level in your life, it can make a big difference in other ways.

A chiropractor can perform a spinal adjustment on your back and neck. This will relieve tightness in your muscles and will help improve the functions of your central nervous system. Because of this, you may begin to experience fewer headaches in your life, even if you never improve your posture or eliminate stress.

For more information, contact Smith Chiropractic or a similar location.

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About Me

Up until a few months ago, I spent every night fighting off back and joint pain. The pain was so great that it woke me up during the night and kept me awake until the next morning. I finally asked my doctor for help. But unfortunately, the doctor couldn't do anything about my pain and referred me to a chiropractor. When the chiropractor examined my back and joints, the specialist noticed a few things about them. The cartilage between my joints had deteriorated over the years. It was the cause of my constant pain and sleepless nights. The chiropractor used a variety of treatments to make me feel better. My treatments included spinal adjustments and body-strengthening exercises. Now, I sleep without pain and feel great. Please read my blog to find out how you can overcome your body pain with chiropractic care.