Meditation is a Natural Cure for Tension Headaches

Meditation is a natural cure for tension headaches. With stress and anxiety becoming a part of everyday life, it's no wonder that tension headaches are so common. People are reaching for drugs like acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen to relieve tension headaches. These drugs only treat the symptoms not the cause. Tension headaches are muscular, not vascular, and the triggers tend to be physical and stress-related factors. Tension headaches are usually caused by muscle contractions in the head, neck, and shoulder muscles. Most tension headaches are defined as mild to moderately intense, but the severity of the pain varies from one person to another, and can vary from one headache to another in the same person. Chiropractic adjustments, message and stretching can help loosen the muscles in your neck, shoulders and back after they get tight. Meditation can help relieve the stresses of life thus preventing these muscles from tightening. Meditation leads to a deeper level of physical relaxation and promotes a neurochemical shifting. Stress hormones like cortisol are acutely lowered and when we feel more relaxed, the brain generates natural anti-anxiety and happiness-enhancing chemicals like endorphins and high levels of serotonin. Tension headaches are a symptom of stress caused by our busy and hectic lives. There are many causes of stress that causes tension headaches. The most common exte al causes are: * Major life changes * Work * Relationship difficulties * Financial problems * Being too busy * Children and family The most common internal causes are: * Inability to accept uncertainty * Pessimism * Negative self-talk * Unrealistic expectations * Perfectionism * Lack of assertiveness You can't hide from life, but you can learn to alleviate the stress that causes tension headaches. Meditation leads to the relaxation response, which is a physiologic response that opposes the stress response. It is a protective mechanism against stressful stimuli – whether it be emotional or physical.