Is stress making you ache?
In many cases, however, tension headaches are short-lived and infrequent. To deal with yours:
- Go easy on over-the-counter pain relievers: Some brands contain caffeine, which, if taken too frequently, causes caffeine-withdrawal, "rebound" headaches that make the problem worse. Also consider cutting back on coffee, but don't go cold turkey. "I usually suggest drinking just one cup a day -- but having that cup every day to avoid caffeine-withdrawal symptoms," Mays says.
- Do a self-massage of muscles in the face and neck that often refer pain to the head. Start by gently pressing your fingers on both sides of your face around the hinge to your jaw, rubbing the area in a circular motion, then kneading the skin with your fingers. Next, move hands to the area just behind the jaw and below the ears, massaging gently as you slowly slide hands down your neck to the base of the shoulders.
Jaw achePain on the side of the face that can radiate to the head or neck may be indicative of the jaw malady known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). But in many cases, the problem isn't the joint connecting the jaw to the skull, but muscular tension caused by clenching your teeth while under stress. "Don't rush out for a joint operation," Kanner says. Instead, ease tension in muscles that operate the jaw:
- Open your jaw as wide as you can, hold for a few moments, then gradually let it relax. "Sometimes you'll feel more pain initially," Kanner says, "but that's a function of muscle tightness, and the discomfort should dissipate as you work the muscles."
- Try to make a habit of holding your jaw open slightly so that your upper and lower teeth don't touch. Resting your tongue against the roof of your mouth while you do this can help keep teeth separated so you won't clench or grind them.
- Stress can cause you to clench or grind your teeth at night. Speak to your doctor; she may recommend a mouth guard to both minimize damage to your teeth and cushion pressure from the jaw, which may help relieve pain.
By Richard Laliberte | 
