Tension Headaches

Do you have a hard time managing your stress? Is it causing frequent headaches and disrupting your daily activities? Have you tried various treatments and not had any relief? Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), the all-natural alternative, may be the answer for you.  

Studies have shown:

• OMT improved tension-type headaches when combined with relaxation techniques.
• OMT can treat tension-type headaches

A headache is pain or discomfort anywhere in the region of the head or neck. Headaches are the most common health complaints experienced by every person at some point during their life. Most headaches are not serious and can be treated with osteopathic manipulation, lifestyle changes, and medications. There are many different types of headaches and it is important to know the particular type of headache you have.

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache that occur when the head and neck muscles contract. Tension headaches may occur at any age, but are most common in adults and adolescents.

Causes

Tension headaches may be caused by stress, poor posture, fatigue, eye strain, alcohol and tobacco use, and even hormonal changes in women surrounding a menstrual period and during pregnancy.

Symptoms

People with tension headaches have generalized pain in the head and neck described as a band-like tightness or pressure.

Diagnosis

Tension headache is diagnosed by taking a thorough history and physical exam. To rule out other causes of headache, your physician may order other tests.

Treatment

Treatment of tension headache includes:

• Osteopathic manipulative treatment
• Keeping a headache diary to help identify your headache type and recommend effective treatment. Your headache diary should include information about the location of pain, duration, intensity, foods eaten, medications, weather conditions, daily activities, and associated symptoms.
• Over-the–counter (OTC) pain relief medications
• Homeopathic remedies
• Managing stress: One way to manage stress is to take deep breaths and to meditate. You are always breathing, everywhere you go and during everything you do. Whenever you become conscious of your breathing, you can slow your breathing and take deeper breaths.

Click here for a resource to Meditation and Mindfulness.

For a list of articles supporting OMT, please click here.

Head & Nervous System Disease

• Tension Headaches
• Migranes
• Tmj –Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
• Cerebral Palsy
• Trauma
• Premenopausal Women with Newly Diagnosed Depression
• Sinusitis