Tension Headaches – Do Yourself a Favor and Ditch the Painkillers
We’re all prone to getting headaches…and they’re an absolute nightmare, to say the least. Although there are many different types of headaches, but let’s take a look more specifically at tension headaches.
Tension Headaches are more common than we think and can be located in the head, scalp or neck. These bad boys can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 7+ days!
Symptoms:
- Mild to moderate dull tightness or aching pain
- Pressure behind your eyes
- Pressure that feels like a band around your head
- Tightness in your neck and shoulder muscles
- Scalp tenderness
It’s Time to stop the excessive use of painkillers!
Having such a fast-paced and always ‘on the go’ lifestyle means that our number one remedy has become the painkiller. We’re all guilty of excessively using them because let’s face it…it’s the most convenient.
Painkillers are a problem because we’re ignoring what our bodies are actually trying to tell us. There are many possible reasons behind tension headaches that we simply don’t pay enough attention to.
1. Stress
Reducing ‘stress triggers’ and stressful environments can have a massive effect on relieving tension headache symptoms. When we are stressed, this not only has a psychological effect but also a physical effect on the body. Your central nervous system (CNS) kick starts your “fight or flight” response – where the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released. Overexposure to these stress hormones can start to mess with important bodily functions e.g. digestive and immunity systems.
It’s important to limit (where possible) as many stressful situations as we can.
2. Lifestyle
Failing to implement a healthy lifestyle is one of the main reasons tension headaches occur so often. Remembering to stay away from junk food, drinking enough water and getting some exercise e.g. walking, is essential.
3. Quality Of Sleep
We’re not here to preach when we’re all guilty of neglecting our sleep…but what’s really important to talk about are the ‘Deep Sleep Stages’ — REM sleep and stage three of the sleep cycle — “Known as restorative phases that are critical for hormone regulation, growth, and physical renewal.”
Don’t underestimate the power of sleep. AVOID ALL NIGHTERS – you’ll thank yourself later!
4. Lack of Fresh Air
Living in a country where it is so hot that you could probably fry an egg on the pavement? It’s likely that you spend the majority of your time chillin’ in the AC…
Make sure to get some real oxygen into your homes, especially in bedrooms before sleep. This makes a world of a difference!
