Tension Headache Symptoms:
Typically, tension headaches are milder than migraine headaches. Tension headache pain does not stop you from doing your daily activities and generally goes away sooner than a migraine, which could last for hours to days. Whereas most people work through a tension headache, people with migraine seek dark, quiet places to rest and recover from the headache episode. Tension headaches are very common and cause a pressing or tightening sensation around the entire head. The pain of tension headaches is mild to moderate in intensity and may be accompanied by muscle tenderness in the neck, head, and shoulders. The symptoms of a tension headache include a dull, band-like discomfort around the head that may be accompanied by muscle tenderness in the neck and shoulders.
By learning how migraine and mental health impact one another and ways to manage both, you can improve your quality of life. Learn more about the relationship between migraine and mental health in this AMF webinar. People who experience tension-type headache often describe their pain as ‘a tight band around the forehead’ or a dull, steady ache on both sides of the head. While the root cause of this type of headache is unknown, some research suggests that they occur more often in people with heightened sensitivity to pain. It’s important to note that tension headaches don’t cause these other conditions in most cases.
If you think you may have migraine, these answers to common questions can help you further investigate this possibility with a doctor. We recommend taking a look at our patient guides, which include useful information like how to talk to your doctor about migraine. You should not have to deal with migraine’or pregnancy’alone. It’s critical to have a support network of understanding people who can not only check in on you but also empathize with your experience. Then consider joining our Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine. Other names for tension-type headache include contraction headache, psychomyogenic headache and stress headache.
Chronic tension headaches that last for weeks and months may affect your quality of life. For example, a chronic tension headache may make it hard for you to focus on your work or family responsibilities because you’re always dealing with tension headache pressure. Some people with frequent headaches say that they have fewer headaches if they exercise regularly.
Although your head hurts, tension headaches usually don’t keep you from your daily activities, and they don’t affect your vision, balance, or strength. Using medicines along with stress management may be more effective than any one treatment in reducing your tension-type headaches. Even if you have a history of headaches, see your health care professional if the headache pattern changes.
Sometimes it can take time to recognize headache patterns’and while that can be frustrating, it’s OK if you can’t figure out the cause right away. The important thing is to find prevention and treatment strategies that are right for you, even if it takes a bit of trial and error the advantage to figure them out. With a tension headache, there are usually no problems with the nervous system. But tender points (trigger points) in the muscles are often found in the neck and shoulder areas. A headache diary can help you determine the cause of your tension headaches.
Also make an appointment if tension-type headaches disrupt your life. A chronic tension-type headache typically lasts for part or all of the day for most days of the week. You should see a doctor if your tension headache has lasted more than two days. Taking painkillers for more than this time can cause you to develop a medication-overuse headache. So, some people may inherit a tendency to be more prone to develop tension headaches more easily than others when stressed or anxious. Many of thesesymptoms will respond to oestrogen therapy.
Reflexology is a technique that places pressure on specific “reflex points” on the hands and feet that are believed to correspond to areas throughout the body. Some early studies suggest it may relieve pain and allow people with migraines read what he said to take less pain medication. They also believe reflexology helps improve general well-being and energy level. In some cases, your physician may recommend botulinum toxin A (Botox) injections to relieve tension headaches.
There also tends to be more headache research focused on migraines, leaving people with tension headaches less informed about what causes them and how they can manage symptoms. In cases of intense pain, you might confuse your tension headache with migraine. This is a type of headache that causes throbbing pain on one pop over to these guys or both sides of your head. Migraines are moderate to severe in intensity, while tension headaches are mild to moderate. Migraines can also be worsened by physical activity, while tension headaches cannot. Unlike with migraine headaches, you won’t have other nerve symptoms, such as muscle weakness or blurred vision.
Relaxation techniques and avoidance of stressful situations may help to prevent tension-type headaches. Identifying and correcting one or more triggers may reduce headache frequency and severity. In part, they result from changes in how the nerves of the head, neck and shoulders sense pain. They are also caused by changes in the brain’s interpretation of the pain signals sent from the muscles in the head and neck. Emotional stress and muscular tension also probably act as triggers. Keeping a headache diary can help identify the source of your tension headaches and how you can change your environment and habits to avoid them.