How to Eliminate Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are headaches brought on by stress and sometimes a lack of sleep. They are the most common type of headaches. Tension headache sufferers often experience tightness or pain across the forehead, a sensitivity to light and sound, inability to focus on the task at hand and irritability. Sufferers will want to work on eliminating these headaches so that they can function at their best.

Things You'll Need

• Cold packs
• Pain relievers
• Prescription medications

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Instructions

• 1

  Get eight hours of sleep each night. If your muscles are not getting the rest they need, they tense up. If you are having trouble sleeping, you need to see a doctor. Temporary drugs such as Ambien may be prescribed to get you on a healthy sleeping pattern. You could also consider taking something like Tylenol PM.

• 2

  Take a shower or a hot bath. Taking a shower or relaxing in a hot bath will help you to relax your muscles. This may be all you need to get rid of a minor tension headache.

• 3

  Stop eating food and beverages that contain caffeine. You will also need to quit smoking. These things are considered triggers. They will bring on your tension headaches. So cutting them out of your diet will eliminate future tension headaches from forming.

• 4

  Begin exercising for at least thirty minutes each morning. Exercising reduces stress. Once you have begun a pattern of exercising each morning, you should begin to see that you are no longer suffering from tension headaches.

• 5

  Use a cold pack on your forehead. The cold will reduce any inflammation, as well as numb the area. This can provide you with some relief from your tension headache.

• 6

  Take an over-the-counter pain medication. Ibuprofen can be taken every six hours. Acetaminophen products can be taken every four hours. If you are in need of something a little stronger, you may want to try a product like Excedrin Migraine.

• 7

  See your doctor if you continue to have a large number of tension headaches. He will be able to prescribe other medications to help you find relief.