What Helps Tension Headaches?
Research Study Reveals Effective Treatment for Tension Headaches
A research study reveals that a combination of medication along with behavioral management training is the most effective way to treat tension headaches.
Tension headaches are thought to be caused by muscle tension/contractions originating in the neck, shoulders, skull, or forehead. These muscles can tighten (contract) due to stress, poor posture, lack of sleep, and eye strain. Just like in other areas of the body, muscle straining in the head can cause pain.
Because tension headaches can be caused by stress, a psychologist at Ohio University decided to see if stress management therapy that included ways to reduce or rebuff stress would help to reduce chronic tension headaches in patients.
Study Details
A study to determine the results of medication combined with behavioral management took place at Ohio University in 2000. Dr. Kenneth Holroyd had 203 adults with chronic tension headaches enter an eight-month clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of medications with behavior modification.
The participants in the study were divided into four groups:
- those treated with medication alone
- those treated with placebo
- those treated with stress management therapy & placebo
- those treated with stress management & medication
Patients tracked their progress in assigned journals. They also recorded if they needed to resort to over-the-counter pain meds when their treatment wasn't working.
Results
At the end of the clinical study, it was noted that three of the four groups had benefitted from their headache treatments. Those in the placebo group had no changes. Those with just meds or placebos and therapy had improvements and less need for over-the-counter remedies. The group who took prescribed tension headache medication with stress modification therapy had the most significant reduction in the number of headaches (50% less.)
Dr. Holroyd was satisfied that this demonstrated the need for both medicinal and behavioral therapy to effectively treat tension headaches. Tension headaches are, after all, often caused by emotional stress.
Conclusion
To successfully manage tension headaches, it may be necessary to incorporate behavioral modifications into your treatment plan. Since tension headaches are often caused by stress, reduction in stress triggers can reduce the number of tension headaches.
Stress management techniques include relaxation, journaling, biofeedback, emotional therapy, exercise, meditation, and peaceful visualization.
This study was the first of its kind to prove the link between the use of behavioral techniques and medication in the reduction of chronic tension headaches.
*****For more information on headaches and migraines, read Headache Types and Causes, Tension Headache Overview, Migraine Overview, Migraines: Causes and Triggers, Migraine Signs and Symptoms, Migraine Diagnosis and Treatment, and Alternative Migraine Therapies.
******For related neurological information, check out the Neurological ARTICLE INDEX and Blog.
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Reference:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/press_releases/pressrelease_headache_050101.htm
