Tension Headache

Most people describe a tension headache as a constant dull, achy feeling on both sides of the head. Some people with tension headaches also have a tight feeling in their head or neck muscles. Tension headaches usually begin slowly and gradually. They often start in the middle of the day. Another name for this type of headache is "stress headache." When people say they have a stress headache, they usually mean they have a tension headache. Tension headaches may be mild or severe. Sometimes they hurt more than migraine headaches. Overactivity of muscles of the scalp, forehead and neck causes tension headache. A dull ache or tightness in these areas, like a tight band around the head or a heavy weight on top, results from this overactivity. Headache is the most common pain complaint and the most frequent medical problem seen in medical clinics. Most experts believe that the majority of headaches are muscle tension-type. Community-based epidemiological studies have found that 14% of men and 29% of women have had headaches either every few days or headaches which significantly bothered them. Tension headache is generally described as a bilateral dull ache, pressure or cap-like pain that is usually located in the forehead, neck and shoulder regions. The headache typically occurs from two to seven days a week and can last from one hour to all day; a small proportion of tension headache sufferers have continuous headache.
Trigger factors
· increased tension or stress (both mental and physical), for example:
· excessive worry
· all work-no play
· long periods of study, typing or other concentration
· perfectionism ·
· increased tension in the neck muscles, for example:
· poor posture
· injuries to the spine
· repressed hostility, anger or frustration
· a poor, scrappy diet, for example eating on the run