< previous page | page_7 | next page >
Page 7
| conflicts in the office or home are anticipated. Depression and anxiety have also been noted to lower both the pain perception and pain tolerance thresholds; anger or excitement, however, can obscure or lessen pain temporarily. |
| Emotional factors are not the only triggers of muscle-contraction headaches. Certain physical posturessuch as holding one's chin down while readingcan lead to head and neck pain. Tensing head and neck muscles during sexual excitement can also cause headache. So can prolonged writing under poor light, holding a phone between the shoulder and ear, or even gum chewing. |
| More serious problems that can cause muscle contraction headaches include degenerative arthritis of the neck and temporomandibular joint dysfunction or TMJ. TMJ is a disorder of the joint between the temporal bone (above the ear) and the mandible or lower jaw bone. The disorder results from poor bite and jaw clenching. |
| Treatment for muscle contraction headache varies. The first consideration is to treat any specific disorder or disease that may be causing the headache. For example, arthritis of the neck is treated with anti-inflammatory herbs, and TMJ may be helped by corrective devices for the mouth and jaw. People who suffer infrequent muscle contraction headaches may benefit from a hot shower or moist heat applied to the back of the neck. Cervical collars are sometimes recommended as an aid to good posture. Physical therapy, massage and gentle exercise of the neck may also be helpful. |
| Vascular Headaches |
| Vascular headaches are so named because they are thought to involve abnormal function of the brain's blood vessels |
< previous page | page_7 | next page >

If you like this book, buy it!