STRESS! : Coping with Tension Headache Pain

Your temples ache; you rub your neck in search of relief.
You've got a terrible tension headache. 

Try these tips to handle the pain

Know the Symptoms

“Patients describe the pain as a constant squeezing, tightness or pressure all over the head,” says Peter Goadsby, M.D., director of the University of California San Francisco Headache Clinic and member of the American Academy of Neurology. Discomfort may be worse at the temples, back of neck or shoulders. “The pain usually lasts for several hours but can linger for days, though it won't prevent you from functioning [like a migraine].” Episodes may occur occasionally, daily or almost constantly.

learn your triggers
The causes of tension headaches are not well understood except for one: “The only thing that clearly does trigger tension headaches is stress,” says Dr. Goadsby. Poor posture is another possible culprit. Holding your neck muscles in one position for too long -- hours or computer work, sleeping in an awkward position -- can also set off a tension headache. Other triggers may include a change in sleep patterns (too much, too little), low blood sugar from skipped meals, dehydration and jaw clenching or grinding. Some foods, such as aspartame, alcohol and caffeine, are also linked to tension headaches.

keep a diary
“A diary is helpful in accurately diagnosing headaches and learning your triggers,” says Deborah I. Friedman, M.D., director of the Headache and Facial Pain Management Program at Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “We can identify patterns when we have a few months’ worth of information.” Create a headache diary and list the date of every headache, its duration and intensity level and your symptoms. Include the foods you ate, where you are in your menstrual cycle and the medications you took that day. Also note whether or not over-the-counter (OTC) medications relieved your headache.

rule out a migraine
Tension headaches are often confused with migraine headaches, but it’s important to distinguish the two because they are treated differently. “The more disabling a headache is, the more likely it is to be a migraine,” says Goadsby. Migraines are characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head (not the all-over squeezing sensation of a tension headache), nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light or sound -- so intense that you need to lie down -- and occasionally a visual disturbance or flash of light. One of the big indications you actually have a migraine: Physical activity -- walking around, doing household chores -- make migraine headaches worse, which is not usually the case with a tension headache.

learn to relax
If you start to feel a tension headache coming on, stop what you're doing. “Take a break, stretch your legs, leave your office and get your brain to do something else,” says Goadsby. As simple as it sounds, redirecting your brain may halt a headache. Or try this acupressure trick: Firmly squeeze the webbed space between your thumb and index finger with your opposite hand for a few minutes to relieve pain. Other relaxation tricks include meditation, deep breathing, acupuncture, or you can try cognitive behavioral therapy to learn stress management techniques to reduce the frequency of headaches.

try over-the-counter medications
If behavioral techniques don’t work, head to the drugstore. Aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen are good choices, says Goadsby. But avoid taking OTC pain relievers more than twice a week as they may cause a medication-overuse or rebound headache.

get preventive medications
“If you need to take OTC medications a few times a week or tension-type headaches impact your ability to function, it’s time to see your doctor,” says Dr. Friedman. Your primary care doctor may treat you or refer you to a neurologist or headache specialist. Similar to migraine patients, your doctor may prescribe a daily drug regimen to preventive medications, like antidepressants (amitriptyline, venlafaxine) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as paroxetine (Paxil), according to the NIH. Other drugs that may offer relief include anticonvulsants such as topiramate (Topamax), says Friedman.

watch for more serious symptoms
If your headaches change or medications that previously worked no longer relieve your pain, see your doctor. Occasionally, your headache may indicate a serious underlying health issue such as meningitis, says Friedman. If you experience a sudden severe headache or a headache accompanied by fever, vomiting, confusion, double vision, balance issues, loss of consciousness or speaking difficulties, call 911.

English: Recommended by Business Doctors: www.Business-doctors.at 

Deutsch: Buch link:
 "Don't Panic: Du bist nicht allein"
http://stress-burnout-dont-panic.blogspot.com/

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