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Tension headache
Definition:
Tension Headache is an ache or pain or discomfort involving the head and neck.
Incidence:
Tension Headache is the most common headache and is experienced by up to 90 % of the population at some stage of life.
Characteristic symptoms:
This headache often occurs on both sides of the head, or in the centre over the top of the head or the neck.
The pain often starts in the neck and then moves up to the centre and top of the head. The pain is described as dull, tight and heavy ("like a clamp") and is often associated with other sensations such as fullness, light-headedness or pressure. The onset is gradual and the ache may last between minutes to days.
A duration of several hours a day beginning in the late morning or afternoon is typical. Sleep is usually not disturbed by the headache. Some people can have mild tension headaches almost every day, with more severe attacks on certain days.
Cause:
The exact cause of the tension headache is as yet unknown. Research has identified several factors that may be responsible or additive in causing the headache. Excessive muscle contraction has been commonly identified as leading to this type of headache. This in turn may be a result of poor posture, stress or neck problems such as cervical spondylosis. Tension headaches are not generally associated with brain tumours. In the presence of a normal physical examination (which will be performed by your doctor), there is no need for scanning of the brain.
Treatment:
Avoidance of precipitating causes such as bad posture (especially bad sitting posture at work in front of a computer, or at night due to a poor pillow) is important if one can be identified. If no precipitating cause can be identified, treatment can include measures to induce muscle relaxation. Helpful procedures include warm wrappings of the neck, light gentle massage to tender muscles in the neck or simple neck exercises.
If these simple measures do not suffice your doctor may prescribe formal physiotherapy or occupational therapy in addition to prescribing simple analgesics with or without muscle relaxant medicines. Tension headache that occurs very often ( more than 2-3 days a week) can also benefit from daily medication to prevent pain from occurring.
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