Health Tip: Tame Tension Headaches

How to help prevent and control them

(HealthDay News) -- Tension headaches are often triggered by stress or anxiety, causing pain and muscle tension in the head and neck.

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Here are suggestions to help keep tension headaches at bay, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

• Help control stress and anxiety with exercise, meditation, yoga or other stress-relieving methods.
• Get plenty of sleep each night.
• If you have muscle soreness in the upper back, neck or head, gently massage the muscles in these areas.
• Know what causes headaches for you, and try to prevent the condition. For example, if cold temperatures tend to cause your headaches, try to keep warm.
• Try sleeping with a different pillow, or sleeping in a different position.
• Maintain good posture. Exercise the neck and shoulders often, especially when typing, reading or working at a computer.

-- Diana Kohnle