Royal Travels News

The exact cause of tension-type headaches is not clear but certain things have been known to trigger them, including:

• stress and anxiety
• squinting
• poor posture
• tiredness
• dehydration
• missing meals
• lack of physical activity
• bright sunlight
• noise
• certain smells

Tension-type headaches are known as primary headaches, which means they are not caused by an underlying condition. Other primary headaches include cluster headaches and migraines.

How are tension headaches treated?

Tension-type headaches aren't life-threatening and are usually relieved by painkillers or changes in lifestyle.

Relaxation techniques such as yoga, massage, exercise or applying a hot flannel to your forehead and neck can help with stress-related headaches.

Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to help relieve pain. Aspirin may also sometimes be recommended. 

If you are taking these medications, you should always follow the instructions on the packet. Pregnant women should not take ibuprofen during the third trimester as it could risk harming the baby and children under 16 should not be given aspirin.

Medication should not be taken for more than a few days at a time or it can cause medication-overuse headaches and medication containing codeine, such as co-codamol, should be avoided unless recommended by a GP.

Preventing tension headaches

If you experience frequent tension-type headaches, you may wish to keep a diary to try and identify what could be triggering them. It may then be possible to alter your diet or lifestyle to help prevent them occurring as often.

Regular exercise and relaxation are also both important to reduce stress and tension that may be causing headaches. Maintaining good posture and ensuring you are well rested and hydrated can also help.

Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states that a course of up to 10 sessions of acupuncture over a 5-8 week period may be beneficial in preventing chronic tension-type headaches.

In some cases, an antidepressant medication called amitriptyline may be prescribed to help prevent chronic tension-type headaches, although there is only limited evidence of its effectiveness. This medication does not treat a headache instantly, but must be taken daily for several months until the headaches lessen.

Royal Travels News