How to get rid of a tension headache

Headaches can really put a damper on your day (or evening). They can be debilitating and can prevent you from your activities. There are many different ways to deal with a headache, depending on the type of headache you have. For the purpose of this article, we will deal with the tension headache.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An ice pack or two (or ten)
• A cool to cold, dark, quiet room

1. Take two ibuprofin to relax your muscles a bit. Drink an ice cold glass of water with it, sometimes a headache can be induced or worsened by dehydration (if you're drinking coffee or sodas, it really doesn't count).

2. Use a muscle spray or rub (such as Ben-gay, Benalga, Artic Spray, or Icy-Hot) to help dull the pain.

3. Go to a cool to cold, dark, quiet room. Turn off the TV, radio, and cell phone for a bit. Those will do nothing to improve your headache.

4. Lie down on an ice pack (apply it to your shoulders, neck, and/or head). Yes, it has to be ice. No, heat is not ice. I know heat feels better and is soothing, but it is not good for tension or migraines so put the heating pad away and go get the icepack! YES, the one in the freezer- it defeats the purpose if it's the one in the medicine cabinet that isn't frozen (put that one in the freezer for backup).

5. Now, take a deep breath and feel the ice numbing the muscles. While you're laying there, tense and relax your muscles slowly. For example: Start with your toes - curl them under, hold for ten seconds, then relax them. Then tighten your entire foot, hold for ten seconds, relax. Tighten your lower leg, hold, relax... continue with your torso, fingers, and arms, working your way up to your shoulders, neck and face. Be sure to pay close attention to your facial muscles. Take deep breaths as you do this.

6. Sit up in bed and roll your neck, slowly. Feel the tension melting from your neck. Make sure you are giving your neck a good stretch, don't just roll it for the sake of rolling and be sure to do this SLOWLY.

7. Take a deep breath. Now, hold your arms out (palms up towards the ceiling). Be still, close your eyes, and remember to breathe. Hold this position for a good thirty seconds to a minute.

8. Stretch both arms up - palms turn to face each other and clasp over your head. Continue to sit in bed, back straight, arms extended over your head. Yes you look stupid, but we're stretching and moving the tension out of your back- besides it's dark, no one can see you! Remember to breath deeply, inhale fully, exhale fully.

9. Relax. Lie back down on the ice for a while.

10. While you're laying there, massage your fingers, hands, arms, neck, eyelids, earlobes, and temples. Apply a decent amount of pressure to break up the tension. Always massage toward the heart.

Tips & Warnings

• This isn't a guarenteed remedy, some headaches are more difficult to cure. Take deep, cleansing breaths, try to let go of the stress.
• Do NOT use heat for a migraine or tension headache. Use ICE, yes it's cold (that's why they call it ice) but suck it up! Use a handtowel between your skin and the ice but I PROMISE, no matter WHAT type of headache you have, ICE is the answer!! You CAN use moist heat for a sinus headache, but don't try to use that for tension or migraines!
• This exercise will NOT help a sinus headache (use a nasal spray, sinus med, and either ice or a hot, moist compress over your eyes and head).
• As far as migraines, few things really help there, other than a cold, dark, quiet room, a good sumatriptamine, ice, and sleep.

[MichaelJMotta]

on 6/13/2008 This article is unusual in that one may say of it that it's "so good I nearly fell asleep" in a sincere manner rather than in a sarcastic manner. :)