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Healthy Body
Tension headaches
A tension headache, one of the most usual types of
primary headaches that adults experience, can
cause a dull tightness and pressure around your
forehead or in the back of your head and neck.
"The pain isn't throbbing, and physical
activity doesn't make the pain worse," says
Dr. Abdul-Malak.
If the pain comes and goes within a day, and
you don't experience other symptoms such as
fever, vomiting, numbness or weakness, you
can usually treat the headache at home. Taking
aspirin or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
(NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or
naproxen (Aleve) may help you get relief.
Tension headaches can be lifestyle related.
If you have frequent tension headaches,
make sure you're getting plenty of sleep and
exercise, eating well and staying hydrated,
and try to manage stress.
If the pain lasts more than a day or two,
with or without other symptoms, make
an appointment with your primary care
doctor. "You need to be evaluated to
determine what kind of headache it is,"
says Dr. Abdul-Malak.
By Sandra Gordon
Headaches are so common that it's
easy to dismiss them.
"But one of the most common mistakes
patients make is putting up with headache pain
without seeking medical attention," says Dr. Sami
Abdul-Malak, chief of the neurology department
at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y.
While some headaches really are nothing but
a pain, others can be a sign of something more
serious. Here's a guide to figuring out what's
worrisome and what's not—and how to get the
help you need to feel better.
headache pain
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