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Causes Of Tension Headache
By peace | July 13, 2006
Many people associate the onset of tension-type headache with stress or upsetting emotional situations. However, these factors have not been shown to lead to muscle contraction or reduced blood flow. Although people may have tenderness of the muscles surrounding the head, tension-type headache is not the result of sustained muscle contraction.
The most compelling and current evidence points to a central nervous system dysfunction as the underlying cause of tension-type headaches. Thus, the muscle ache of tension-type headache is thought to be a result of increased sensitivity of the nervous system and pain from occasional or long-term imbalances in brain chemicals
Studies show that some people with primary headache disorders respond to medications that specifically target and influence serotonin. These are mostly people who have migraine or cluster headaches. Most of those who do not have migraine or cluster
People with chronic tension-type headache may also have imbalances in neurochemicals. In fact, depression may be an underlying cause in some people with chronic tension headaches. Depression and some sleep disorders are linked to serotonin. When you feel tense, the muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw tighten up, creating pain. Causes include the following:
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Any acitivity (like using a computer, typing, fine work with your hands, or using a microcope) that causes the head to be held in one position for a long time without moving
- Sleeping in an abnormal position or in a cold room
- Eye strain
- Fatigue
- Overexertion
- Head or neck injury, even years after the injury
- Clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth, which can cause a condition known as Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction, can also cause muscle contraction around the temples, neck, and shoulders, spreading to the head and resembling tension headaches
- Pain that originates from other areas, such as your sinuses, can also trigger tension headaches or a combined sinus/tension headache
Coping With Tension Headache
Keeping a headache diary, particularly when you first begin to experience headaches, can help identify the source of your tension headaches and how to modify your environment and habits to avoid headaches. When a headache occurs, write down the date and time the headache began. Note what you ate for the preceding 24 hours, how long you slept the night before, what you were experiencing just before the headache, any unusual stress in your life, how long the headache lasted, and what you did to make it stop.Good health habits, as listed below, are important for helping to lessen stress and tension headaches:
- Adequate sleep
- Eating a healthy diet
- Exercising regularly
- Quitting smoking
- Choose from a variety of relaxation techniques
Prevention
Medications used for prevention of tension-type headache include antidepressants, beta-blockers, and anticonvulsants. These medications are usually worth trying, but they are more likely to be effective if the person also has migraine or cluster headaches. Most doctors choose to start with the newer generation antidepressants, which have fewer side effects, and gradually increase the dose to reach a therapeutic effect. Antidepressants may have to be tried for 1-2 months to determine if they help.
Outlook
Tension-type headache is a harmless medical condition that responds well to over-the-counter pain relievers taken when an occasional headache strikes. Some people with episodic tension-type headache overuse medications and cause headaches to progress into chronic tension-type headaches.
At present, no studies associate tension-type headache with the development of more severe or life-threatening medical conditions. Additionally, no studies specifically evaluate chronic tension-type headache. The outlook for people with chronic tension-type headache is not well understood.
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