by Cathlene Scoblionko NP
Many people who suffer from headaches search for a way to prevent them, as well as, treat them in a way that involves less down time, less medication, and less expense. There is no doubt that there are some great medications out there for treating the different kinds of headaches. Muscle tension headaches respond well to NSAIDS and muscle relaxants, migraines respond well to the triptan medications. However, most medications do just that- treat the headache once it is there. There are some medications that are preventative but require daily dosing which can be expensive and increase the possibility of side effects. What types of complementary or alternative methods might there be to prevent headaches? We cannot answer that question until we know what causes headache pain.
What are some of the common muscle tension or stress headache triggers?
- Lack of sleep, poor sleep, poor sleep conditions
- Head or neck injury
- Repetitive stress such as sitting at the computer all day
- Emotional stress
- Tension or strain of neck, scalp, face, jaw
- Eye strain
How can headaches be prevented?