Headaches affect your mood, relationships and productivity levels. They may occur occasionally, frequently or even several times a day, according to the American College of Physicians, or ACP. The pain can be sharp or throbbing, impact a specific area or involve the whole head. Posture is a major contributor to the most common type of headaches: tension headaches.
Types of Headaches
There are three major types of headaches: cluster headaches, migraine headaches and tension headaches. Cluster and migraine headaches are most likely due to blood flow and blood vessels, notes ACP. Tension headaches are usually due to anxiety, depression and stress or bad posture. Tension headaches don't cause nausea and vomiting the way migraines can but they can occur in conjunction with migraines, according to Medline Plus. Tension headache pain is usually dull instead of throbbing or feels like a tight band of pressure around the head. They usually occur all over the head and may be felt in the neck, scalp, shoulders and temples.
Causes of Tension Headaches
About three in four of all headaches are caused by tension in the scalp and neck muscles, according to ACP. Alcohol, caffeine and smoking can also contribute to tension headaches. Dental problems, eye strain, fatigue, colds and flu are other causes of tension headaches. Forward head posture, or FHP, is a frequent contributor to tension headaches. Looking at a computer for hours, doing fine work with your hands or using a microscope all involve forward head posture. Your pillow can also affect your head and neck posture and cause tension headaches. Lowry Chiropractic explains that using your computer and talking on the phone affect posture -- and the positioning of your computer monitor and chair, as well as your keyboard and mouse can worsen your posture and lead to headaches.
Ergonomics
To relieve forward head posture, keep your computer screen at eye level. Your chair should tilt back slightly to relieve pressure on your lower back and allow you to keep your knees parallel to the floor. Your desk and keyboard should be parallel with your arms and you should take frequent breaks to stretch and change positions.
Other Preventive Measures
Medline Plus recommends keeping a headache diary so that you can better identify tension headache triggers. Lifestyle changes may be necessary if stress is the cause of your muscle tension. Exercise and proper sleep will also relieve tension headaches. Try to stay aware of your posture and try a different pillow at bedtime. Pain medications aren't a good choice if you get headaches frequently. Overuse of pain medications creates a rebound effect and you'll end up getting headaches more often over time.
