Tension headaches, which are characterized by a constant ache or pressure around the head—especially at the temple or back of the head and neck—are the most common type of headache experienced by an enormous percentage of people.
It is estimated that 95% of women and 90% of men have one or more headache episodes per year, and approximately 1 out of every 6 individuals in America experience the discomfort of chronic tension headaches.
Over-the-counter headache medications, such as those containing acetaminophen, are the go-to remedy that the majority of headache sufferers reach for. Acetaminophen is the most common drug ingredient and most frequently used painkiller in the United States today. Each week, approximately 23 percent of U.S. adults—or 52 million consumers—use an acetaminophen-containing medicine.
But be forewarned: Each year, the use of acetaminophen causes 100,000 phone calls to poison control facilities, 56,000 emergency room admissions, 26,000 hospitalizations, and more than 450 fatalities from liver failure alone. Acetaminophen is a major cause of acute liver failure, even at dosage amounts that are within the recommended levels.
What most people don’t know is that the use of acetaminophen may not be the most effective method for stopping headaches. …