Tension Headache – What it is, Causes and Treatment!
Tension Headache – What it is, Causes and Treatment that everyone should be aware of. In addition, Tension Headache is a type of headache caused by excess tension in the muscles of the neck and head, which are close to the skull. This muscle tension causes contractures that trigger tension headache. So, check out about Tension Headache – What it is, Causes and Treatment:
What is Tension Headache: Tension headache is usually a diffuse, mild to moderate pain in your head, often described as the sensation of a band squeezing your skull.
Tension headache is the most common type of headache , and its causes are not well understood. According to the Brazilian Headache Society, about 38% to 74% of Brazilians suffer from Tension Headache .
Tension headaches can be episodic (less than 15 days per month) or chronic (more than 15 days per month). Headaches can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several days.
Causes of Tension Headache: There is no single cause for tension headache . This type of headache is not an inherited trait that runs in families.
In some people, tension headaches are caused by involuntary, chronic contraction of muscles in the back of the neck and scalp. This muscle strain can be caused by:
- insufficient rest
- Bad posture
- Emotional or mental stress, including depression
- Anxiety
- Tiredness
- Hungry
- Excessive exercise.
Tension headaches are usually triggered by some kind of stress of an external or internal origin. Examples of stressors include:
- Having problems at home/difficult family life
- Be expecting a son or daughter
- Preparing for tests or exams
- back from vacation
- start a new job
- lose a job
- Being dissatisfied with your own body
- deadlines at work
- Competition in sports or other activities
- be a perfectionist
- not getting enough sleep
- Get involved in many activities/organizations.
Episodic Tension Headaches are usually caused by an isolated stressful situation or an accumulation of stress. Being exposed to stress on a daily basis can lead to chronic tension headache .
Other triggers of tension headache are:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine (in excess or withdrawal)
- flu and cold
- Dental problems like bruxism
- visual fatigue
- excessive smoke
- Fatigue
- Nasal congestion
- overexertion
- sinusitis _
Tension Headache Risk Factors: Risk factors for Tension Headache include:
Gender. Among people who have Tension Headache , about 88% are women of
age. The incidence of tension headaches seems to peak in the 1940s, although people of all ages can suffer
from this problem.
Treatment for Tension Headache: Many therapeutic regimens can be administered with room for high malleability, repetition and drug combinations. The choice must depend on individual options, pain intensity , availability, tolerance and specific contraindications for each patient, with no definitive rules.
Currently, there is much debate as to whether symptomatic treatment should be step-by-step, using progressively more potent drugs, or whether it should be stratified, with each patient choosing the most appropriate drug according to the intensity and peak of pain development .
The current trend has been for this second option. There may even be a requirement for hospitalization for intravenous hydration if the patient is very prostrate, as is often the case in the migraine state.