Tension Headache, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Tension Headache, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

A tension headache is the most frequent type of headache.

Tension headaches are dull pain, tightness, or pressure around the forehead or the back of the head and neck.

The pain is often linked with muscle tightness in these areas.

Some people sense it like a clamp squeezing the skull.

There are two types:

1. Episodic tension headaches happen less than 15 days per month.

The episodic kind normally begins slowly, often in the middle of the day.

2. Chronic tension headaches happen more than 15 days a month.

Chronic ones come and go over a longer period of time.

These headaches can persist from 30 minutes to a few days.

The pain may get stronger or ease up throughout the day but it is almost always there.

While the head hurts, tension headaches normally do not keep the patient from the daily activities, and they do not affect the vision, balance, or strength.

Tension headaches happen when neck and scalp muscles become tight or contract.

The muscle contractions can be a reaction to stress, depression, anxiety or head injury.

They may happen at any age, but are most frequent in adults and older teens.

This sort of headache happens most often in people between 20 and 50 years of age.

It is slightly more frequent in women and is likely to run in families.

Any activity that induces the head to be kept in one position for a long time without moving can cause a headache.

Activities may be typing or other computer work, fine work using the hands, and looking into a microscope.

Sleeping in a cold room or sleeping with the neck in an abnormal position may also activate a tension headache due to tightening of the neck and head muscles.

Other triggers of tension headaches are:
1. Physical or emotional stress including depression
2. Alcohol use
3. Caffeine (too much or withdrawal)
4. Colds, the flu, or a sinus infection
5. Dental problems such as jaw clenching or teeth grinding
6. Eye strain
7. Excessive smoking
8. Fatigue or overexertion
9. Hunger
10. Low iron levels

Tension headaches can happen when the patient also has a migraine.

Tension headaches are not associated with brain diseases.

Episodic tension headaches are normally set off by a single stressful situation or a buildup of stress.

Daily stress can lead to the chronic kind.

This type of headache does not run in families.

Some people get them due to tightened muscles in the back of the neck and scalp.

This muscle tension can come from:
1. Not enough rest
2. Bad posture

For others, tightened muscles are not part of tension headaches and there is no clear cause.

Tension headache can:
1. Start at the back of the head and spread forward
2. Become a band of dull pressure or squeezing pain around the entire head
3. Affect both sides of the head equally
4. Make the muscles in the neck, shoulders, and jaw feel tight and sore

The headache pain may be described as:
1. Dull, pressure-like (not throbbing)
2. A tight band around the top of the head
3. All over (not just in one point or one side)
4. Worse in the scalp, temples, or back of the neck, and possibly in the shoulders

The pain may happen once, constantly, or daily.

Pain may persist for 30 minutes to 7 days.

It may be activated by or get worse with stress, fatigue, noise or glare.

There may be difficulty sleeping.

Other symptoms accompanying it are:
1. Mild to moderate pain or pressure in the front, top, or sides of the head
2. Headache that starts later in the day
3. Trouble sleeping
4. Feeling very tired
5. Irritability
6. Tr...