| To prevent tension headaches, many different | | | | feedback on body functions such as muscle |
| antidepressants may be effective for individuals | | | | tension, heart rate and blood pressure. You then |
| with and without depressive symptoms. Keeping a | | | | learn how to reduce muscle tension and slow your |
| diary may be useful to determine a pattern of | | | | heart rate and breathing yourself. The goal of |
| triggers. Avoidance of these triggers may reduce | | | | biofeedback is to help you enter a relaxed state |
| the number of headaches. Triggers may include: | | | | so that you can better cope with your pain. Ask |
| certain foods, hunger, eye- strain, poor posture, | | | | your doctor whether such a program might help |
| stress, anxiety, anger etc.Avoid situations that | | | | you.Dietary modifications that exclude common |
| may cause a tension headache. This can include | | | | food triggers may help you pinpoint just what is |
| keeping warm if the headache is associated with | | | | causing your headaches. Although the list of |
| cold, using a different pillow or sleeping position, or | | | | potential food triggers is long (see the Dos and |
| similar changes.Use good posture when reading, | | | | Don'ts section for a comprehensive list), the most |
| working, or involved in activities that may cause a | | | | common are chocolate, red wine, caffeine, MSG, |
| headache. Exercise the neck and shoulders | | | | Aspartame, cured meats, aged cheese, nuts, |
| frequently.Exercise regularly. Regular aerobic | | | | nitrate, sulfites, alcohol and ice cream. This diet |
| exercise reduces tension and can help prevent | | | | excludes all common headache triggers, yet is still |
| migraines. If your doctor agrees, choose any | | | | nutritionally balanced. Try following it for several |
| aerobic exercise you enjoy, including walking, | | | | weeks to see if it doesn't help reduce the number |
| swimming and cycling. Warm up slowly, however, | | | | and severity of your headaches.Irregular sleep |
| because sudden, intense exercise can cause | | | | patterns. Changes in your normal sleep patterns |
| headaches.Alcohol may trigger attacks during the | | | | (especially taking afternoon naps) seem to trigger |
| period headaches occur, so avoidance of all alcohol | | | | cluster headaches.Headache Prevention Tips: |
| during these periods will reduce headache | | | | Breathing ExercisesA major cause of headache is |
| frequency. During headache free periods, alcohol | | | | chronic stress and related emotions such as |
| does not appear to trigger attacks.Manage stress. | | | | frustration and irritability. One main body area |
| In addition to regular exercise, techniques such as | | | | affected by chronic stress is the upper back, |
| biofeedback training and relaxation therapy can | | | | neck and shoulders, which become tight, tense |
| help reduce stress. Biofeedback teaches you to | | | | and painful. Slow, deep breathing exercises are a |
| control certain body responses that help reduce | | | | superb way to calm your mind, relax your body, |
| pain. During a biofeedback session, you're | | | | reduce the effects of chronic stress and improve |
| connected to devices that monitor and give you | | | | your ability to deal with it. |