Tension Headache

Headaches are one of the most common conditions that affect us frequently, and one type of it is tension headache, which is the most common type worldwide.

Tension headache

A tension headache is a headache that comes like pressure on the forehead and temples as a result of recurrent stress and strain, and it affects women more than men.

Tension headache is divided into:

• Infrequent episodic: the tension headache occurs once or less a month.
• Frequent episodic: the tension headache occurs 1-14 times a month for at least three months.
• Chronic: the tension headache occurs more than 15 times a month for at least three months.

Causes of tension headache

There isn’t a clear reason for tension headaches until now, and possible causes contain the following:

• The muscles between the neck and head knot up due to stress.
• Persistent eye strain without breaks.
• Neck strain due to looking down for a long time.
• Sleep problems, like insomnia and sleep apnea.
• Depression and anxiety.
• Degenerative arthritis in the neck.
• Temporomandibular jaw disorder.

Symptoms of tension headache

• The patient feels like there’s a tight band wrapped around the head and causes a pressure on the temples and forehead.
• Mild to moderate pain.
• Pain and tightness in the muscles of the neck and shoulders.
• Light and sound sensitivity.
• The symptoms might last 30 minutes to a week in some cases.
• Chronic tension headaches affect the quality of life of the patient and make the patient unable to focus on the work or study and doing normal daily tasks.

Diagnosis of tension headache

• It’s diagnosed by asking the patient about the symptoms and frequency of the symptoms.
• Certain patients might need imaging tests to exclude other conditions.

Treatment of tension headache

• Painkillers.
• Other drugs, such as antidepressants and antiseizures, in some cases of chronic tension-type headaches.
• Managing stress.
• Get enough rest.