HEADACHES, TENSION-TYPE

TYPES

Tension headaches are divided into two primary classes as follows:

• Episodic tension headaches, where the pain can last 30 minutes to seven days that could lead to chronic tension headache.
• Chronic tension headache,a kind of headache that keeps on going or becomes consistent and is viewed as an endless tension that can interfere with your daily

SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of a tension headache include the following:

• Dull headache
• Feeling of weight over your forehead or on the sides and back of your head
• Tenderness of your scalp, neck and shoulder muscles

DIAGNOSIS

If you have constant or recurring tension headaches, your doctor may request for the following exams to find out the reason for your headaches:

• Medical interview and physical exam
• Pain scale/scoring
• Pain characteristics
• Pain location
• Imaging tests
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computerized tomography (CT)

TREATMENT

Individuals with tension headaches may not seek medical help and can treat it on their own. On the other hand, frequent utilization of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can cause another kind of headache, called medication overuse headache.

A variety of medications, both OTC and prescribed, are available to lessen the pain of headaches, including the following:

• Pain relievers
• Combination medications
• Triptans and narcotics

Your specialist may endorse drugs to lessen the recurrence and seriousness of attacks, which may include:

• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants