Definition:
Tension headaches are the most common type of primary headaches. The pain can radiate from the neck, back, eyes, or the other muscle groups in the body. Tension-type headaches account for almost 90% of all headaches.
Diagnosis:
The doctor can learn a lot about the headaches from descriptions of the type of pain, including its severity, location, frequency and duration, and other signs and symptoms the patient may have.
Treatment:
Episodic tension-type headaches typically respond well to over-the-counter analgesics, such as paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin.
Symptoms and Signs:
Tension-type headache pain is generally described as a constant pressure, as if the head were being squeezed in a vise. The pain is usually bilateral which means it is present on both sides of the head at once. Tension-type headache pain is often mild to moderate, but may be severe.
Causes:
The exact cause of tension-type headaches is still not known. It is suggested that abnormalities in the peripheral and central nervous systems may be concerned in the pathophysiology of TTH. It has long been believed that they are the result of muscle tension around the head and neck. One of the theories says that the main cause for tension type headaches and migraine is teeth clenching which leads to a chronic contraction of the temporalis muscle.
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