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Almost everyone gets an occasional headache, with its throbbing, pounding, or viselike sensation. The list of things that can cause headaches is long, but most common headaches are caused by simple tension. Other kinds of headaches include:

• migraine headaches
• cluster headaches
• sinus headaches

Ways to Treat a Tension Headache

• Massage your neck muscles, rubbing gently and firmly toward the heart. Massage your temples.
• Use heat. Apply a heating pad tor take a warm shower.
• Apply a cold pack against your forehead or neck.
• Lie down in a dark room with a cool cloth on your forehead.
• Take aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen for pain (eat a small snack to prevent stomach upset).
• Use relaxation techniques. Close your eyes and focus on slow, deep breathing or do meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, or visualization. These techniques can also help to prevent future headaches.

Tips to Prevent Tension Headaches

• Try to reduce stress in your life.
• Make a conscious effort to relax your jaw, neck, and shoulder muscles, even when you don't have a headache. Massage your neck and temple frequently.
• Notice your neck and shoulder posture while working and make adjustments if necessary.
• Exercise everyday.
• Reduce the amount of caffeine you consume in coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolate, and cocoa.
• Avoid foods that tend to cause headaches.

Call for Medical Help if:

• You have severe and stabbing pain
• You have eye pain
• The pain increases when you try to touch your chest with your chin (with your mouth closed)
• You have a stiff neck, fever, and nausea
• There is one-sided weakness, numbness, confusion, or disturbance of speech, vision, or coordination
• A blow to the head causes severe pain, enlarged pupils, confusion, or vomiting
• Headaches begin after the age of 40
• A severe headache is very different from previous headaches
• Headaches persist in spite of home treatment
• There is a fever of 103° or higher with no other symptoms