Tension headaches are very common, affecting up to 78% of the general population. Unfortunately, they’re also among the most neglected and difficult types of headaches to treat.
Pain is caused by tightness (contraction) of your neck, and scalp muscles. With a tension headache, the pain often starts at the back of your head and moves forward, so that it eventually includes your neck, scalp, and head.
It’ s often described as feeling like you have a tight band across your head. It may be caused by staying in one position for a long time, such as in reading, using a computer, or playing video games. It may be also caused by stress, but sometimes there is no obvious cause. If your headaches happen 15 or more days in a month for several months, they are considered chronic tension headaches. If they occur less frequently, they are called episodic tension headaches.
Although tension headaches can be painful, they are rarely a sign of a more serious illness. A combination of lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, and traditional and complementary therapies can help reduce the number of tension headaches you have.
A comprehensive treatment plan including relaxation (see Mind/Body Medicine), exercise and other lifestyle changes, and occasional medication can be very effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of tension headaches.
Biofeedback, yoga, and relaxation techniques, for example, can help relieve pain and lower the number of headaches you have. Regular exercise helps, too. One study found that an ancient medical technique called wet-cupping reduced headache severity by 66%. Patients also experienced about 12 fewer days of headaches per month.
Lifestyle
Keeping a headache diary can help identify the source of your tension headaches and how you can change your environment and habits to avoid them. When a headache starts, write down the date and time it began. Note what you ate for the preceding 24 hours, how long you slept the night before, what you were doing 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 are important for helping to lessen stress and tension headaches:
* Get adequate sleep
* Eat a healthy diet
* Get regular exercise
* Quit smoking
* Use relaxation techniques (see Mind/Body Medicine section)
Tension headaches medications:
Medications are used both to relieve pain and to prevent headaches if you have chronic tension headaches.
To relieve pain:
Over the counter (OTC) analgesics – are usually effective. Don’ t take these medications more than 2 days per week, and take only the amount recommended on the package. Talk to your doctor about which of these is best for you.
Esgic Plus is the combination of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine. It is used primarily for pain relief due to tension headaches. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer. Butalbital helps to relax muscles. Caffeine can help improve blood flow. This combination medication is used to treat tension headaches. Acetaminophen helps to decrease the pain from the headache. Caffeine helps increase the effects of acetaminophen. Butalbital is a sedative that helps to decrease anxiety and cause sleepiness and relaxation.
* Acetaminophen (Tylenol) – can cause liver damage if used in high doses or over a long period of time
* Aspirin – can cause stomach upset and bleeding
* Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) – can cause stomach upset and bleeding, and raise risk of heart problems
* Naproxen (Aleve) – can cause stomach upset and bleeding, and raise risk of heart problems
Prescription analgesics – may be needed if your headaches don’ t respond to OTC medications. They include
* Naproxen (Naprosyn) – can cause stomach upset and bleeding, and raise risk of heart problems
* Indomethacin (Indocin) – can cause stomach upset and bleeding, and raise risk of heart problems
* Ketoprofen (Orudis) – can cause stomach upset and bleeding, and raise risk of heart problems
Rarely, if your headaches are very severe and nothing else relieves the pain, your physician may consider prescribing narcotics such as codeine plus acetaminophen (Tylenol with Codeine No. 3) or hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Vicodin).
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