Tension Headaches

Chances are, if you have ever had a headache without an underlying cause, you have had a Tension Type Headache. These headaches are also known as stress headaches or ordinary headaches, and are the most commonly occurring primary headache. Tension headaches tend to initially appear – or have an onset – during young adulthood, but can start at any age. Onset after 50 is unusual, though.

A Tension Type Headache is a headache with a pressing or tightening quality that is usually bilateral, or occurs on both sides of the head. The location of the headache is most commonly in the front of the head or along the temples, although it may also occur along the top or back of the head. It does not pulse or throb. The pain level is mild to moderate and is not made worse by physical activity.

Tension Type Headaches are further classified into two categories, Episodic TTH and Chronic TTH. An Episodic tension headache diagnosis requires the presence of at least 10 previous headaches that do not occur more than 14 times per month. Vomiting and nausea do not occur, and sound and light sensitivity are typically absent, although only one of the two may be present. Chronic TTH, by contrast, is the presence of more than 15 headaches each month for at least six months. Nausea, light sensitivity, or sound sensitivity may occur, but no more than one of these symptoms can be present for the diagnosis.

The reason why some people get Tension Type Headaches, and others do not, is unknown. What exactly is occurring during the headache is unknown as well. It was once believed that the headache was caused by abnormal muscle contractions in the scalp, but is now thought to be from abnormal nerve sensitivity. There are, however, some precipitating factors that will trigger this headache in susceptible people. The two most commonly reported triggers for a Tension Type Headache are stress and hunger. Eye strain, sleep deprivation, and bad posture are also included. This lends credibility to the thinking that headaches are simply a protective response to environmental stress. When the headache occurs you will stop what you are doing and rest, although uncomfortably. Those who suffer from tension headaches may have a lower tolerance to external stress than those who do not.

Headache prevention is the desired outcome when designing a treatment plan for this disorder. The use of medication to relieve the headache when it is occurring is important, but overuse of both over the counter and prescription drugs can have long term effects such as dependency, rebound headaches, and developing a tolerance to the drug that requires ever increasing doses. Lifestyle changes must be made to avoid the triggers that aid in the development of the headache. Eating regularly and getting sufficient sleep must become important to the tension headache sufferer, just as a diabetic must manage their disease. If poor posture is a trigger, physical therapy for posture correction may be indicated. This may include daily stretching, exercise, and the use of hot and cold packs. In more severe cases that do not respond well to traditional therapy, occipital nerve blocks and trigger point injections are suggested. Occipital nerve blocks are performed by administering a dose of medication into the back of your head, anesthetizing the occipital nerve and bringing immediate relief. Sometimes, a steroid is injected as well for a longer effect. A trigger point injection is similar, except that the injection is made in the muscle, not the nerve. This causes the muscle to immediately relax, reducing pressure on the nerves that may be causing your headache.

Recommended Reading:

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