Tension Headache Symptoms:
To discover more evidence-based information and resources for headache and migraine, visit our dedicated hub. She says that she will explain to patients why the symptoms of a headache are leading her to a certain diagnosis, and why she’s not worried. ‘We think the myofascial tissues send signals to the brain [that create] increased activity in those pain pathways. They become more sensitized and dysregulated,’ says Dr. Jennifer Robblee, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Jan & Tom Lewis Migraine Treatment Program, Barrow Neurological Institute. Tension headaches, while nagging and unpleasant, are not usually debilitating, unless they become chronic.
However, ‘tension-type headache’ is the most widely accepted term today. At times of tension, I can get a severe headache, which I thought was a migraine. A 2015 systematic review notes that those experiencing chronic headaches or migraine may benefit from click here for info CBT. For each day that you have a tension headache, make a note of it. After several weeks or months, you may be able to make a connection. Most people find over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen, are all they need.
It may be that exercise helps to ease stress and tension, which can have a knock-on effect of reducing tension headaches. Unless they become especially frequent, tension-type headache is typically not disabling. It can often be treated with over-the-counter great post to read medications and a bit of rest. Still, to be on the safe side, a doctor should always diagnose headaches. More frequent tension-type headaches may require daily preventive medications or complementary therapies to restore health and quality of life.
5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP, 400 to 600 mg per day) — Your body makes the amino acid 5-HTP and converts it into serotonin, an important brain chemical. Researchers think changes in brain chemicals may be related to tension headaches, and some of the drugs used to treat headaches work by affecting serotonin. Based on that thinking, 5-HTP has been proposed as a treatment for tension headaches.
Regular massage may help relieve stress and pain in people with chronic tension headaches, according to one preliminary study. Doing stretches for your head and neck (taught by a physical therapist) may also help. Practicing proper posture is another important factor in reducing the number of headaches.
You may also notice pain and tightness in the back of your neck. Muscle tenderness in the head, neck, or shoulder is a common accompanying symptom of tension headaches. This phenomenon, called pericranial tenderness, is caused by muscle tensing or contracting in the forehead, temples, jaw, and neck. While unpleasant and nagging, tension headaches are not dangerous.
A tension-type headache is the most common type of headache, yet its causes aren’t well understood. Some people are able to treat their tension-type headaches without medications. You can apply an ice compress, heating pad or massage to any tight areas in the neck and shoulders. The use of any over-the-counter pain reliever should be limited to no more than two or three days per week. If pain medications are used more frequently, “rebound” headaches may occur on the days that medications are not taken.
People with Down Syndrome may have an increased risk of seizures with the use of 5-HTP. If your tension headaches are frequent or episodic, it’s important to talk to a healthcare professional. A tension headache is a headache that feels like there’s a tight band wrapped around your head that puts pressure on your forehead and temples. Healthcare providers may call them tension-type headaches.
But research suggests that muscle contraction isn’t the cause. Managing a tension-type headache is often a balance between practicing healthy habits, finding effective nonmedicine treatments and using medicines appropriately. Occasionally tension headaches are caused by reading in low light for long periods. Some common conditions can cause a headache similar to a tension headache. These include a high temperature (fever), which may cause a similar headache. A similar headache is also common if you don’t have caffeine for a while when you were used to drinking lots of caffeine-rich drinks, such as a lot of coffee.
Instead, people with these conditions may be more likely to experience tension headaches alongside other symptoms. People often describe tension headaches as a pressing or tightening pain of mild to moderate intensity that affects both sides of the head. Many tension headaches can be managed with over-the-counter medications, but if the pain begins to become chronic, there are prescription medications you can try. There is a high rate of overlap between people with mood disorders and people who deal with tension headaches. In one study, 84% of the participants with tension headaches also had a psychiatric diagnosis, such as anxiety or depression.
Pregnancy can add another complicated layer to your migraine journey, but having a strong support system will make it easier to navigate the ups and downs. You can find additional support from people in your position and those who have already experienced pregnancy with migraine in our Move Against Migraine Facebook group. Whether you have lived with migraine for a few months or a few decades, you know migraine can be a challenging experience. You should continue to seek proper medical attention and access information to help alleviate the burden. Consider these complementary and integrative treatments, and search our Resources Library for more. Reviewed for accuracy by the American Migraine Foundation’s subject matter experts, headache specialists and medical advisers with deep knowledge and training in headache medicine.
Due to their mild to moderate discomfort, most people can get on with their daily routine, although they may be irritable, have difficulty focusing, or lose their appetite. Since tension headaches are often caused by specific triggers, identifying the factors that cause your headaches is one this content way to prevent future episodes. Research suggests that infrequent tension headaches may be caused by the activation of hyperexcitable peripheral afferent neurons. These are specialized neurons, or nerve cells, that relay sensory information from pain receptors in the body to the brain.
Up to 80% of adults in the U.S. get them from time to time. Most of the time, tension headaches are triggered by stress from work, school, family, friends, or other relationships. Because tension-type headaches are so common, they can have an effect on job productivity and quality of life, particularly if they’re chronic. Frequent headache pain may make it hard to attend activities. If you do go to your job, it may be hard to function as usual.
The pain may get stronger or ease up through the day, but it’s almost always there. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Falling oestrogen, and not falling progesterone, levels are the trigger for the migraine in menstrual migraine. Chaplains representing many faiths are available around the clock to provide support, comfort and counsel to patients, families and caregivers. Connect with a team that can help you find resources, solve problems and advocate for you during treatment at UCSF.
Many factors cause tension headaches, and you may be unable to avoid all potential triggers. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prevent a tension headache. And if home treatment doesn’t work, healthcare providers may have medications and other therapies to ease tension headache pressure. The time to consider taking medication for the prevention of headaches is not clear. If you are regularly having tension headaches more than four times a month then preventative treatment is best before headaches become very frequent.