Headaches are either classified as primary or secondary. Primary headaches are not associated with any other disease or disorder while secondary headaches are those attributed to some other pathologic condition such as brain tumor or the result of an infectious disease. Tension headaches, often called stress headaches, were renamed by the International Headache Society in 1988 to tension-type headaches and are the most common type of primary headache. It has been estimated that approximately 90% of all headaches are of this type.
Tension headache symptoms are typically characterized by a constant viselike pressure as if a band was being placed around the head and tightened. A popular expression is “it feels like my head is in a vise.” With most tension-type headaches the pain is mild to moderate in comparison to migraines which are moderate to severe. However, tension headaches, also called stress headaches, can occasionally be severe in intensity. They differ from migraines in that they are rarely accompanied by nausea or vomiting, they are not worsened by exercise or other physical exertion, there are no visual or auditory disturbances, and there is no sensitivity to smell.
The two most common precursors are stress and hunger. Other precipitating factors are a lack of sleep, eyestrain, neck pain, and caffeine withdrawal. There are several theories as to what causes tension headaches, but muscle tension has been recently dropped by some experts as the cause. Certainly tension is a major factor, but as a general rule stress appears to be the cause of the muscle tension and associated pain and not the muscle spasms themselves.
The headaches usually originate at the base of the skull or the frontal region of the head and typically encompass the entire head, meaning they are bilateral. Episodic, or intermittent headaches can last anywhere from a half hour to several days. The chronic variety will usually vary in intensity throughout the day, but rarely go away all together.
Medical therapy for episodic tension-type headaches is most commonly over-the-counter pain killers, also known as analgesics. These can include acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil), and ordinary aspirin. The tension headache symptoms generally respond well to these pain killers. Muscle relaxants are another commonly taken substance. Chronic symptoms are usually treated with stronger prescription analgesics.
It also bears mentioning that frequent use of medication can lead to rebound headaches which are caused by the medication itself. One study showed that two-thirds of chronic headache suffers had an increase in the severity of their pain as a result of the analgesics they were taking.
Other methods of treatment are most commonly chiropractic manipulation, muscle stimulation, acupressure, biofeedback and various relaxation and stress reduction techniques. Biofeedback is not actually a treatment, but a training program for learning how to relax.
Natural remedies often help just as much as medications and can often show better results over a longer period of time. Many people are becoming leery of drugs and their resulting side effects and are seeking natural treatment instead. The best solution is usually the hardest, changing your lifestyle to include healthy meals, regular exercise, and the proper amount of sleep. And it goes without saying that reducing stress in any way possible is generally a good idea.
