Tension headaches are common in today’s high stress environment. These headaches are debilitating and can be painful. They usually cause a dull, tight feeling in the temples, back, neck, and shoulders. These headaches can be very painful, but they are not dangerous and can be treated naturally. Many sufferers resort to over-the-counter medication when they feel the pain is getting worse. However, this only addresses the symptoms and does not address the root cause.
Prevention
These are five steps that you can take to prevent these painful events from ever happening. You can do them all right at your desk. Most of us work all day, every night, without taking the time to take a break and check in with our mental and physical health.
Excess stress and tension can build up in our bodies, causing muscle tightness, most commonly in the neck or face. Sometimes we don’t realize we are stressed until it’s too late and we are suffering. It is possible to avoid tension headaches or at least prevent them from getting worse. If you feel a headache coming on immediately, talk to your doctor.
Do this!
Focus on the areas of tension in your body by closing your eyes. Your jaw, shoulders and face are the most common places to hold tension. Are your forehead wrinkles visible? Are your teeth clenched? Maybe your shoulders are strained. Focus on each part of your body and notice if it is tight.
Take a deep inhale and let go of all your stress and frustrations. You will notice a difference in how your body feels when your muscles relax. Continue doing this until you feel no tension. While this will not completely relieve your headache, it will teach your body to let go any stress or emotions that are holding you back. This will prevent the headache from ever forming. This can be done throughout the day to reduce muscle tension and prevent it from recurring.
Remember
Sitting at a desk all day is a sign that you aren’t sitting correctly and you need to adjust your workstation. Your feet should be flat on the ground and your back against the backrest of your chair. Your knees should be bent at 90 degrees, as should your arms as you reach for the keyboard. Do not hunch forward or lean forward towards the computer screen.
If your shoulders are sagging forward, lift your chest and push your shoulders back. This will increase blood flow to your brain. Standing for long periods of time, keep your knees bent and your feet shoulder width apart. Your weight should be distributed towards the heels and not the balls of your feet.
Don’t slouch your shoulders and let your arms hang naturally. You must be aware of your posture whether you are sitting, standing, or lying down throughout the day. It is easy to get into a good position and then fall back as the day progresses.
Tension headaches
These can be prevented by proper muscle alignment and proper circulation. When it comes to relaxing, the eyes are often neglected. If you stare at a computer screen for hours, read long periods of time, drive long distances, or use a lot of your eyes, your eye muscles may become fatigued.
However, it is possible to avoid headaches from straining your eye muscles. Here are some exercises that can help you relax and soothe your eyes. It’s a good idea “warm up” your eyes before you start any eye-exercise. You can do this by rubbing your hands together and gently placing them over your closed eyes. Take a few deep, slow breaths and let your body relax. Feel the warmth in your eyes and the darkness it creates. You can rest your eyes by looking away from something you are currently focusing on for a longer time, such as a book or computer.
Conclusion
These steps are not only for headache relief, but they can also be used to prevent future headaches from happening. Tension headaches are a description of the exact nature and cause of tension headaches. Pay attention to the changes in your body that stress causes. These exercises will become easier as you continue to practice them. Soon, you’ll be living a more peaceful, pain-free lifestyle.
