If you’ve been experiencing these awful headaches, you might want to reach out to your primary care physician and schedule an appointment.
In the meantime, you can learn a thing or two about how they operate here.
Are Tension Headaches Common?
The simple answer is yes, they are. In fact, researchers estimate more than 70% of people experience them once a month. Women are more commonly affected than men.
Are There Different Types of Tension Headaches?
In terms of frequency, yes.
You can have infrequent episodic tension headaches, which generally happen once a month.
You can have frequent episodic tension headaches, which generally occur anywhere from 1-14 times a month for at least three months.
You can have chronic tension headaches, which generally occur more than 15 times a month for at least three months.
What Are Some Symptoms?
The most common include:
- Mild to moderate pain in the front, top, and sides of the head
- Pressurized pain in the front, top, and sides of the head
- A headache that starts later in the day
- Drowsiness
- Increased tiredness
- Crankiness
- Trouble focusing
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Muscle aches
But you want to keep in mind this little fact: Tension headaches do differentiate from migraines. Where migraines have nerve symptoms like muscle weakness and blurred visions, tension headaches do not.
How Are Tension Headaches Diagnosed?
A physical exam is the #1 way to diagnose your tension headaches. There, your PCP will ask you a list of questions, weaving through the signs and symptoms you report. It’s important to be honest with your doctor, as this will lead them to the right diagnosis’.
Questions will arise like:
- When do the headaches occur?
- Where do the headaches occur? E.g. forehead, base of head, neck, etc.
- What do the headaches feel like?
- How long do the headaches last?
Do the headaches spark a change in behavior or personality?
Additional questions and diagnosis’ factors can be found here.
What Are Causes for Tension Headaches?
Unfortunately, there’s no singular cause. However, there are triggers you can keep your eyes peeled for. Those may include:
- Stress from work, school, relationships
- Lack of sleep
- Poor posture
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Hunger
- Increased alcohol intake
- Dehydration
- Smoking
Additional causes can be found here.
Is There Treatment?
Treatments will depend on the intensity of the headache and its ability to reoccur. That’s why we highly suggest contacting your medical doctor to get professional medical advice.
However, there are immediate pain relief options you can take advantage of, including consuming these over-the-counter medications (per the labeled instructions) for temporary relief:
- Acetaminophen
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen Sodium