Tension Headache Symptoms
Symptoms of tension headaches include:
- A headache that is constant, not throbbing. You usually feel the pain or pressure on both sides of your head.
- Pressure that makes you feel like your head is in a vise.
- Aching pain at your temples or the back of your head and neck.
- Dull, aching head pain
- The sensation of tightness or pressure across your forehead or on the sides and back of your head
- Tenderness on your scalp, neck and shoulder muscles
- Occasionally, loss of appetite
This is different than migraine headaches, which usually cause throbbing pain and start on one side of your head.
Tension headaches tend to come back, especially when you are under stress. They can last from 30 minutes to several days.
Tension headaches can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from migraines, but unlike some forms of migraine, tension headache usually isn't associated with visual disturbances (blind spots or flashing lights), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, or slurred speech. And, while physical activity typically aggravates migraine pain, it doesn't make tension headache pain worse. An increased sensitivity to light or sound can occur with a tension headache, but this isn't a common symptom.
Usually, pain from a tension headache is not severe and does not get in the way of your work or social life. But for some people the pain is very bad or lasts a long time. You have chronic tension headaches if they occur at least 15 days a month.
Tension Headache Treatment
Most people can treat their tension headaches with pain relievers that you buy without a prescription, like acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or aspirin.
But if you take these pain relievers more than 3 times a week, you may get rebound headaches. Rebound headaches are different from tension headaches. They usually start after pain medicine has worn off, which leads you to take another dose. Eventually you get a headache whenever you stop taking the medicine.
Some people have chronic tension headaches. This means they often get headaches. Doctors may prescribe stronger pain medicine for these people.
A variety of medications, both OTC and prescription, are available to stop or reduce the pain of an existing headache attack, including:
- Analgesics. Analgesics are pain relievers, and a class of analgesics known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually the first line of treatment for reducing headache pain. NSAIDs include the OTC drugs aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). Prescription NSAIDs include naproxen (Naprelan, Naprosyn), indomethacin (Indocin) and ketorolac (Ketorolac Tromethamine). Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and aspirin are also analgesics, but they may be less effective than some NSAIDs in treating tension headache pain, and they're more likely to cause medication overuse headaches.
- Combination medications. Aspirin or acetaminophen or both are often combined with caffeine or a sedative drug in a single medication. For example, Excedrin combines aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine. Combination drugs such as this may be more effective than are pure analgesics for pain relief. Although many combination drugs are available OTC, analgesic-sedative combinations can be obtained only by prescription because they may be addictive and can lead to chronic daily headache. Use them only with careful monitoring by your doctor.
- Other medications. For people who experience both migraines and episodic tension headaches, a triptan can effectively relieve the pain of both headaches. Opiates, or narcotics, are rarely used because of their side effects and potential for dependency.
tension headache prevention
Learn how to handle stress. Make sure you sleep, exercise, and eat on a regular schedule. Check your posture. Don't strain your eyes when you use your computer. Get treatment for depression or anxiety.
Try keeping a headache diary. Every time you get a headache, write down the date, the hour, and what you were doing and feeling before your headache started. techniques such as biofeedback training and relaxation therapy can help reduce stress.
- Biofeedback training. This technique teaches you to control certain body responses that help reduce pain. During a biofeedback session, you're connected to devices that monitor and give you feedback on body functions such as muscle tension, heart rate and blood pressure. You then learn how to reduce muscle tension and slow your heart rate and breathing yourself. Ask your doctor whether such a program might help you.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy. This approach also may help you learn to manage stress and may help reduce the frequency and severity of your headaches. During this type of talk therapy, a counselor helps you learn ways to view and cope with life events more positively.
- Other relaxation techniques. These include deep breathing, yoga, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation, which is accomplished by tensing one muscle at a time, and then completely releasing the tension, until every muscle in your body is relaxed. You can learn relaxation techniques in special classes or at home using books or tapes.
