1. Misery Loves Company
Tension headaches, or stress headaches, are the most common type of headache and affect 30 to 80 percent of people in the United States. Women experience them twice as often as men. Tension headache symptoms include a constant dull ache on both sides of the head, tightness in the neck and shoulder muscles, fatigue, irritability and concentration problems. Pain usually begins slowly and is mild to severe.
2. An Ever-Present Pain
The frequency of tension headaches varies greatly from one person to another. Some experience only periodic, or episodic, headaches a few days during each month. Episodic tension headaches produce mild to moderate pain. For others, tension headaches are chronic, occurring every day for months at a time. An estimated 3 percent of the U.S. population suffers from chronic tension headaches. Chronic headache pain ebbs and flows during the day, but there is almost always some degree of pain present.
3. Tightened Muscles Cause Problems
Unfortunately, there is no definitive method used to diagnose tension headaches. However, your physician will usually diagnose you after hearing your symptoms. The causes vary widely. For some, the root is simple muscle tension due to poor sleep or fatigue, bad posture, hunger, overexertion or physical stress.
4. Preserve Your Emotional Health
More often than not, emotional or environmental stress from family, work, school or social relationships causes tension headaches. If your home life is changing due to divorce or the arrival of a new baby, or you're dealing with a stressful work situation, you are at greater risk of developing a tension headache. Short-term stressful situations typically cause episodic headaches, while constant daily stress usually triggers chronic headaches.
5. Pain Relief, Please
The best way to treat recurring tension headaches is to recognize and prevent your triggers whenever possible. Get enough sleep and minimize your daily stress. There are also a number of medications that help prevent tension headaches, particularly for chronic sufferers. Doctors often prescribe anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, anti-seizure or blood pressure medication. If taken daily (even without the presence of a headache), such medicine can reduce or even eradicate tension headaches. If you already have a tension headache and want immediate relief, try an over-the-counter pain reliever containing aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If this doesn't help, your doctor may prescribe a stronger pain medication, such as a muscle-relaxer. Other alternatives for relief include placing a hot or cold pack on your neck or head, taking a hot shower, exercising, getting a massage or even taking a vacation.
