Tension Headache

Tension headaches are also known as tension-type headaches, stress headaches, or muscle tension headaches. Tension headaches often cause pain on both sides of the head that ranges from mild to moderate. It is not often accompanied by nausea. The duration of the pain can range from 30 minutes to a few hours. Tension headaches can recur for several days. You might be diagnosed with chronic tension headaches if you experience tension headaches more than 15 times a month for at least three consecutive months. Tension headaches are most common among adolescents and young adults. They occur more frequently in women than in men.

Symptoms

The symptoms of tension headaches include:

• Pain in one or both temples
• Pressure behind the eyes
• Tight muscles in the neck, shoulder, and scalp
• Occasionally tension headaches can cause your eyes to be sensitive to light from the increased pressure exerted on them. The headache pain might also be severe when you move your head in certain ways, like looking down or turning your head from side to side.

Home Remedies

• Manage your stress levels : Emotional stress is a frequent trigger for tension headaches, so managing your stress levels is an important way to manage your tension headaches. You can add meditation and deep breathing exercises to your daily schedule to relieve the stresses of the day.
• Relax the muscles around your face : Physical and mental relaxation exercises can help to alleviate the pain of tension headaches. Stretching from exercises like pilates and yoga can release the tension from tight face and neck muscles and make the pain from tension headaches less severe. Mental relaxation techniques include consciously visualising and relaxing each of your muscle groups using guided imagery techniques.
• Regulate your screen time : Eye strain is a leading contributor to tension headaches. If you need to sit in front of a computer for a long time, taking regular breaks is important to preventing eye strain. For example, you can try getting up every 30 minutes to stretch or to walk around without looking at a computer or handphone screen.
• Stay hydrated : As mentioned earlier, drinking lots of fluids is important to maintaining regular brain function and preventing headaches. The recommended daily intake of water for an adult is generally between four to six glasses. However, it can be easy for us to forget we need to drink some water because we might not sense our thirst well when we age. Placing a beaker of water next to your laptop as you work, for example, can be a good way of reminding yourself to get enough water throughout the day.