When it comes to headaches, it's important to know when to see a doctor. If you experience the same type of headache multiple times in one month or if your headaches last longer than a day, it's time to contact your doctor. Additionally, if you have a headache that never goes away or a constant headache that keeps happening in the same area of the head, it's important to seek medical attention. If you're looking for ways to manage your tension headache, there are some simple steps you can take.
First, try to sit or lie down with your eyes closed and take several long, slow and deep breaths. This will help direct your attention away from the pain and onto something else, such as your breath, a word, an image or something else of your choosing. It's also important to note that meditation isn't about being gentle or following a particular faith. Instead, it's about finding a form that works for you and experimenting with different techniques.
Chronic tension headache is a condition in which you have a tension headache at least 15 days a month for at least three months. The cause of chronic tension headache is often unclear, but there are treatments available that can help prevent the onset of headaches. One such treatment is amitriptyline, a medicine that can help reduce the frequency and severity of headaches. If over-the-counter medicines don't provide enough relief from your headaches or if you have frequent headaches, your doctor may prescribe additional medications to prevent them.
In one study, two-thirds of people diagnosed with chronic tension headache had had a daily or almost daily headache for an average of seven years before seeing a doctor. It's also important to consider alternative treatments for headaches and migraines, such as antidepressants for chronic tension headaches. Because cervicogenic headaches can be caused by neck injuries or problems, the underlying cause should be addressed to relieve the headache. Additionally, finding and avoiding the things or triggers that cause tension headaches can reduce how often you have them and how severe they are when they occur.
Medication overuse headache is caused by taking pain relievers (or triptan medicines) too often for tension headaches or migraine attacks. It should be noted that drug overuse headache (drug-induced headache) should be ruled out (described above), as it can often be confused with chronic tension headache. Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) is sometimes injected into the muscles of the face and head to treat headaches. Finally, it's important to remember that most headaches are not life-threatening, but occasionally a headache is a sign of a very serious condition.
If you experience frequent headaches, it's important to keep track of when they occur and how bad they are, along with details such as what you ate and what you were doing before the headache started.
