Health Tip: Tame Tension Headaches

How to help prevent and control them

Posted 3/18/08

(HealthDay News) -- Tension headaches are often triggered by stress or anxiety, causing pain and muscle tension in the head and neck.

Here are suggestions to help keep tension headaches at bay, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

Help control stress and anxiety with exercise, meditation, yoga or other stress-relieving methods.
Get plenty of sleep each night.
If you have muscle soreness in the upper back, neck or head, gently massage the muscles in these areas.
Know what causes headaches for you, and try to prevent the condition. For example, if cold temperatures tend to cause your headaches, try to keep warm.
Try sleeping with a different pillow, or sleeping in a different position.
Maintain good posture. Exercise the neck and shoulders often, especially when typing, reading or working at a computer.