Tension headaches are more common in women than in men.
They can occur at any age, but are most common in women between
ages 30 and 39.
According to the American Pain Foundation, 90 percent of
headaches that aren't caused by a disease are tension
headaches.
It was once believed that tension headaches were caused by the
contraction of neck and scalp muscles. However, research has since
called this belief into question.
Tension headaches are associated with chemical changes similar
to those that occur with a migraine. Because of this, some experts
believe the two types of headaches are related.
Medications, including those for depression and high blood
pressure, and frequent use of pain medications can trigger tension
headaches.
Headaches triggered by pain medications are called
rebound-withdrawal headaches.
Alcohol, nicotine, caffeine and other products that stimulate
your body may also trigger a headache.
Tension headaches can be accompanied by a number of other
symptoms and often occur in a pattern. Talk to you doctor about
these and report immediately any headache that deviates from this
pattern.
Tension headaches are usually not a symptom of an underlying
disease.
In rare cases, head pain may indicate a more serious underlying
condition, such as a brain tumor or an aneurysm.
While collecting your medical history, a doctor may ask you
about your symptoms. It may be difficult to remember everything you
may want to tell your doctor, especially if you have frequent
headaches. For many sufferers, it helps to write a list of symptoms
and details about them. You can bring this list with you as a
reference.
Analgesics are among the most common medications used for
tension-headache pain. They either stop pain signals from going to
the brain or alter the brain's interpretation of those
signals.
You can identify factors that trigger your tension headaches by
keeping a headache diary for at least two months. To compile this
journal, record the details of your headache and the circumstances
leading up to it. Then try to avoid those factors that trigger your
headaches.
You can reduce the frequency and severity of tension headaches
with regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming and
bicycling. Exercise can also relieve the pain of an existing
headache. Discuss physical activity with you doctor before starting
an exercise routine.
Tension headaches often only last about 30 minutes, but they
can last much longer. Some people have tension headaches that last
an entire week.
Tension headaches usually develop early in the day, usually
soon after you wake up.
Tension headaches that occur on fewer than 15 days a month are
referred to as episodic.
Tension headaches occurring on 15 days a month or more for at
least six months may be described as chronic.
You are more likely to get tension headaches if someone in your
immediate family, such as a parent, child, sister or brother, gets
tension headaches.
You should discuss all severe, persistent or recurring
headaches with your doctor.
It is especially important to call a doctor if your headache
disturbs your sleep, worsens with activity, doesn't improve with
treatment, changes in pattern or intensity or is accompanied by
other symptoms (e.g., drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, vision or
speech changes).
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