Health Tips for March 19

Health Tip: Tame Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are often triggered by stress or anxiety, causing pain and muscle tension in the head and neck.

Here are suggestions to help keep tension headaches at bay, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Help control stress and anxiety with exercise, meditation, yoga or other stress-relieving methods.
* Get plenty of sleep each night.
* If you have muscle soreness in the upper back, neck or head, gently massage the muscles in these areas.
* Know what causes headaches for you, and try to prevent the condition. For example, if cold temperatures tend to cause your headaches, try to keep warm.
* Try sleeping with a different pillow, or sleeping in a different position.
* Maintain good posture. Exercise the neck and shoulders often, especially when typing, reading or working at a computer.

Health Tip: A Sprain in the Neck

A neck sprain can be caused by a car accident, a sudden impact or fall. Neck pain should be evaluated by a doctor, to see what kind of treatment may be required.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons lists these possible symptoms of a neck sprain:

* Pain in the back of the neck -- especially pain that increases when the neck is moved.
* Stiffness or decreased range of neck movement.
* Pain that is greater a day or so after an injury than immediately following it.
* Muscle pain or spasms in the tops of the shoulders.
* Headache, particularly at the back of the head.
* Sore throat.
* Numbness in the arms or hands, or weakness or a tingling sensation in the arms.
* Irritability, fatigue, problems sleeping and an inability to concentrate.