Tension-type headaches Treatment

Tension headache — is the most common type of headache, which usually occurs against the background of stress, overfatigue, prolonged emotional strain or overstrain of the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle. Most often it manifests itself as a feeling of squeezing or pressure around the head and can last from several hours to several days.

Many people do not attach importance to such symptoms and associate them only with fatigue or a tense work schedule. However, regular attacks can negatively affect working capacity, sleep, concentration of attention and general well-being. Timely diagnostics helps determine the cause of the disorder and select effective treatment.

At the «Oxford Medical» clinic, comprehensive diagnostics and treatment of tension headache are carried out taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient. It is possible to make an appointment for a doctor’s consultation at a time convenient for you by phone or through the online appointment form on the website.

Tension-type headache is a primary headache that is not associated with other diseases or structural lesions of the brain. In medical literature, the term tension headache is also used to designate it.

According to the International Headache Society, this type of cephalalgia is the most common in adults. It may have an episodic or chronic course. In some people, it occurs only from time to time, while in others attacks recur regularly and begin to affect everyday life, work capacity, and well-being. Timely consultation with a doctor makes it possible to confirm the diagnosis, determine the form of the disease, and select the optimal tactics for further treatment.

According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3), tension-type headache is classified depending on the frequency of attacks.

Determining the form of the disease is important for choosing treatment tactics and assessing the risk of further disease progression. The more often attacks occur, the greater their impact on a person’s work capacity, emotional state, and quality of life.

Doctors of “Оксфорд Медікал” recommend consulting a specialist if headache begins to recur regularly or occurs several times a month. Timely diagnostics helps prevent the transition of the episodic form of the disease into a chronic one.

The exact mechanism of development of tension-type headache has not been fully clarified. It is believed that an important role is played by a combination of psycho-emotional factors, muscle overstrain, and changes in the functioning of the mechanisms of pain perception by the nervous system.

Factors that may contribute to the development of TTH include:

• insomnia and other sleep disorders;

• emotional overstrain and chronic stress;

• working at a computer without sufficient breaks;

• a sedentary lifestyle;

• prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position;

• overstrain of the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and upper back;

• posture disorders;

• diseases of the spine, in particular osteochondrosis of the cervical region;

• anxiety and depressive disorders.

In some patients, headache from stress occurs mainly after a strong emotional load. In other cases, the provoking factor is prolonged muscle overstrain or a combination of several causes at the same time.

Tension-type pain may last from 30 minutes to several days. Although tension-type headaches usually have mild or moderate intensity, with frequent attacks they may become a cause of constant discomfort and exhaustion.

In addition to pain sensations, some patients note increased fatigue, difficulties with concentration, irritability, and unpleasant impulses in the head. The severity of symptoms may change depending on the frequency of attacks and the general condition of the body.

Unlike some other types of cephalalgia, TTH usually does not intensify during ordinary physical activity. If a headache occurs during physical exertion, most likely the cause is not TTH, but another pathological condition that requires additional examination.

Specialists of “Оксфорд Медікал” emphasize: if you are troubled by constant tension-type headache, you should not postpone consulting a doctor. Frequent attacks may indicate a chronic course and require clarification of the diagnosis in order to exclude other causes of pain and select effective treatment.

Diagnosis begins with a neurological examination. In many cases, an experienced neurologist can suspect the condition already during the initial appointment by assessing the nature of the symptoms, the frequency of attacks, and the characteristics of their course.

To establish a diagnosis of TTH, it is important to rule out other diseases. For this purpose, the doctor may prescribe additional examinations:

• ultrasound examination of the blood vessels of the head and neck;
• magnetic resonance imaging;
• computed tomography;
• other examinations according to the clinical situation.

During the examination, special attention is paid to differential diagnosis with other causes of headache, including migraine, diseases of the cervical spine, vascular disorders, and the consequences of injuries.

Doctors at Oxford Medical recommend not engaging in self-diagnosis and not limiting treatment to taking pain-relieving medications. Timely examination helps establish an accurate diagnosis, determine the cause of the symptoms, and select the most effective treatment.

The treatment strategy depends on the frequency of attacks, their duration, and the factors that provoke the appearance of symptoms. The main goals of treatment are to reduce the intensity and frequency of headache, prevent repeated attacks, and eliminate factors that contribute to the development of the disease.

Depending on the clinical situation, the following may be used:

• medication therapy;
• correction of the work and rest schedule;
• normalization of sleep;
• psychotherapeutic support;
• massage;
• therapeutic physical exercise;
• physiotherapeutic procedures.

An important component of treatment is the elimination of factors that contribute to the occurrence of attacks. In many cases, correction of lifestyle, sleep schedule, and the level of psycho-emotional stress helps significantly reduce the frequency of headache.

Doctors at Oxford Medical recommend not engaging in self-treatment. Treatment of TTH should be selected individually after the diagnosis is established. Regular intake of pain-relieving medications without a doctor's supervision may lead to the development of medication-induced headache and complicate further therapy.

By itself, tension-type headache usually does not lead to severe neurological complications. However, this does not mean that it can be ignored, especially if attacks occur regularly or become longer-lasting.

The main danger is that without proper treatment, the disease may become chronic. In this case, the headache becomes increasingly frequent and requires longer therapy.

In addition, regular attacks may contribute to the development or worsening of other disorders, in particular:

• sleep disorders;
• increased irritability;
• anxiety;
• decreased concentration;
• chronic fatigue syndrome.

Unlike many other diseases, tension-type headache often develops gradually, so a person gets used to the symptoms and begins to perceive them as normal. As a result, regular discomfort, worsening sleep, and constant muscle tension may accumulate over years, forming a vicious circle in which one factor maintains and strengthens another.

Although it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of developing tension-type headache, following simple recommendations helps reduce the frequency and intensity of attacks.

For prevention, it is recommended to:

• maintain a regular sleep schedule;
• avoid overwork and prolonged psycho-emotional stress;
• take breaks during prolonged work at a computer;
• maintain a sufficient level of physical activity;
• monitor posture during work and rest;
• pay attention to relaxing the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle;
• under a doctor's recommendation, undergo massage to reduce muscle tension;
• eat a balanced diet and maintain proper hydration;
• timely treat diseases that may contribute to the occurrence of headache.

Special attention to prevention should be paid by people who have already experienced attacks in the past. In such cases, it is useful to track the factors that provoke the appearance of symptoms and, whenever possible, avoid their influence.

Doctors at Oxford Medical recommend following a comprehensive approach to prevention. The combination of a healthy lifestyle, adequate rest, and stress level control helps reduce the risk of recurrent attacks and maintain good well-being.

The cost of treatment depends on the form of the disease, the required scope of diagnostics, and the individual therapy program. In some cases, a specialist consultation and lifestyle correction are sufficient, while in others additional examinations or other medical services may be required.

The doctor will guide you in more detail regarding diagnostic methods and the treatment program during the consultation. You can familiarize yourself with consultation prices in advance here. To schedule an appointment, call the contact center or use the online appointment form on the website.

The information is for informational purposes only and does not replace a doctor's consultation.

Sources:

• US National Library of Medicine
• National Institutes of Health
• Ministry of Health of Ukraine