HealthyCanada.com

Overview

A headache is the most common type of pain. In any given year 90% of men and 95% of women experience a headache. Over 50 million North Americans see their doctor about headaches every year and just about everyone takes over-the-counter headache tablets now and again. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache affecting 8 out of 10 people.

It was once believed that tension headaches were a result of contracted muscles in the face neck and scalp - a reaction to an inability to manage stress effectively. But more recent research into head pain has altered this opinion somewhat. While medical experts still can't pinpoint the exact cause of tension headaches many believe that serotonin and endorphin levels could play a role. Serotonin is a chemical in your brain that regulates pain messages. Your brain and spinal cord produce endorphins·which are natural painkillers. When these chemicals are lower than normal you'll feel more pain.

Doctors still don't fully understand what causes these chemicals in your brain to change but factors such as poor posture stress depress and anxiety seem to be major triggers in most people who suffer from tension headaches.

This kind of headache ranges from mild to moderate in intensity with a "vice-like" ache in the forehead temples or the back of the head.

There are three different categories of tension headache depending on how often they occur.

Episodic - Headaches that occur rarely less than once a month are called episodic. These headaches are usually triggered by temporary stress fatigue or an emotional event. They usually go away quickly with or without over-the-counter pain relievers.

Frequent - This is when you get a tension-type headache at least once every month but usually more often.

Chronic - If you have a tension-type headache almost every day with varying degrees of pain over extended periods of time you likely fall into this category. Chronic tension-type headaches occur 15 or more days per month in people who earlier may have suffered only from episodic headaches. They are generally at their worse in the early morning or late in the day. Other symptoms may include:

• Depression
• Insomnia
• Feelings of guilt
• Weight loss
• Dizziness
• Poor concentration
• Fatigue
• Nausea

Most of the time headaches aren't serious and usually don't indicate an underlying disease. But on rare occasions head pain may be a sign of a serious condition such as a brain tumour or aneurysm (rupturing of a weakened blood vessel). If your headaches concern you or you're experiencing any of the following symptoms you should seek medical treatment immediately:

• Headache combined with a fever rash stiff neck double vision weakness numbness or difficulty speaking
• Instantaneous headache that feels like a thunderclap
• Headache after a head injury
• Chronic headache that hurts more after coughing moving suddenly or physical exertion

Treating a tension headache may be as simple as lying down applying ice packs or a warm compress or taking a long hot bath or shower. You may get relief from over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as aspirin acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If you decide to use pain relievers take them only when absolutely necessary and try to use the lowest dosage needed for relief. Children with fever should not take aspirin because of the risk of Reye's Syndrome a potentially life-threatening condition.

If OTC pain relievers aren't doing the trick your doctor may prescribe more appropriate medication for you to help reduce the severity and frequency of your headaches. Anti-depressant medications such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline in lower doses have been known to be effective in treating tension headaches. You don't necessarily have to be depressed to use these drugs or for them to be effective. Interestingly a recent trial showed that both stress management and these medications worked equally well.

If you feel that anxiety depression or stress may be the cause of your headaches pain relievers will serve only as a ·band-aid' solution.

Prevention

While medications reduce tension headache pain·it's only temporary relief. A change in lifestyle is ultimately the best way to avoid tension headaches. Here are some tips that can help prevent or reduce your headaches:

Relax

If you're unsure of how to relax your muscles effectively join a relaxation class or buy books or tapes that will help teach you the correct techniques. Many people find yoga and meditation to be an effective way to relax and relieve stress.

Exercise

Regular physical activity such as walking jogging cycling and swimming can help reduce stress anxiety and depression. Regular exercise will also increase your body's natural pain killing endorphins.

Ice packs & warm compresses

Sometimes holding an ice pack or warm compress to your head can relieve your pain. Always wrap whatever you choose to use in a cloth to protect your skin. Electric heating pads and hot water bottles work well too.

Hot bath or shower

Sometimes all you need is to jump into a relaxing hot bath or shower to help relieve built up stress in your muscles. You may even try using an ice pack or warm compress while soaking in the tub.

Sleep

Taking a nap or going to bed early can do wonders for a mild headache. Quite often all you need to do is to sleep it off.