Tension Headaches

Overview of Tension Headaches

Tension Headache Meaning in Urdu

ٹینشن ہیڈک سر درد کی سب سے عام قسم ہے۔ ذہنی دباؤ یا پٹھوں کے مسائل کی وجہ سے یہ سر درد لاحق ہوتا پے۔ سر درد کی دوسری اقسام کے برعکس اس کی وجہ سے متلی، قے، اور روشنی سے حساسیت کا سامنا نہیں کرنا پڑتا۔ اس کے ساتھ ساتھ یہ سر کے دونوں حصوں کو متاثر کرتا ہے۔ ذہنی دباؤ کی وجہ سے لاحق ہونے والے سر درد کی وجہ سے ماتھے یا سر کے پچھلے حصے پر جکڑن محصوس ہوتی ہے۔ اس درد کی شدت بہت زیادہ نہیں ہوتی، اس لیے اس سے آسانی کے ساتھ چھٹکارا پایا جا سکتا ہے۔

A tension headache is a mild to moderate pain that is felt in the head. It feels like a tight band around your head. It is the most common type of headache that can occur to anyone. These can cause dull pain at the back of the neck and around the forehead. They are also called stress headaches.

Signs and Symptoms of Tension Headaches

The signs and symptoms of a tension headache are mentioned below as:

  • Tender scalp, shoulder muscles, and neck
  • Trouble focusing
  • Muscle aches
  • Irritability
  • The feeling of being tired all the time
  • A feeling of pressure and tightness on the sides and back of the head
  • A dull pain felt in the head

Types of Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are divided into two categories that affect people generally. These are:

Episodic Tension Headache

Episodic Tension Headaches can start from 30 minutes and can last for 7 days. Frequent episodes of episodic tension headache occur less than 15 days a month. But these can last for at least three months.

Chronic Tension Headaches

Chronic Tension Headaches are considered to be chronic and can last for hours and can continue for more hours. These also occur almost 15 or more days in months and can last for around 90 days.

Causes of Tension Headaches

There are a lot of reasons that can cause a tension headache. A lot of times tension headaches can occur due to stress from work, family, or friends. Episodic headaches can occur due to stress buildup or a single reason behind stress. The major triggers and causes however can be,

  • Fatigue
  • Not enough sleep
  • Dental problems
  • Dehydration
  • Smoking or substance abuse
  • Poor posture
  • Anxiety
  • Emotional stress
  • Skipping meals
  • Sinus Infection
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Risk Factors of Tension Headaches

There are not many risk factors for tension headaches. But some of them are mentioned below:

  • Women

Women are more likely to suffer from tension headaches than men

  • Episodic Headaches increase the risk

People who suffer from episodic tension headaches are more likely to have tension headaches than those who get chronic tension headaches.

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Prevention

Exercise along with biofeedback training and therapies for relaxation can help reduce stress to prevent tension headaches.

Biofeedback Training

This is a technique used to control the body’s response to certain pains. In a biofeedback session, certain devices are connected to your body that monitors the body’s response by noticing blood pressure, heart rate, and tension in the muscles. Taking feedback it is taught to you how to slow down your heart rate and reduce tension in the muscles.

Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga and deep breathing, and other progressive muscle relaxation techniques can help prevent stress and eventually headaches.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive Behavior Therapy helps an individual to talk and manage stress well. This can help greatly in reducing the severity of headaches.

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Diagnosis

Tension Headache can be diagnosed by a health expert through physical examination and the diagnosis is done on the basis of an individual’s symptoms. The doctor asks questions like:

  • Which part of the head is hiring?
  • Do you feel headaches every day?
  • Do these affect your sleep?
  • Are you under a lot of tension and stress?
  • How long do the headaches last?
  • What does the pain feel like?

Your doctor can also ask you to get your tests done. These can be:

Treatment of Tension Headaches | When to Consult a Doctor

It is important to treat tension headaches as soon as you get them. There are certain ways used to treat tension headaches. These can be:

Medications

Your doctor will recommend you take painkillers that cure mild to chronic headaches. The common ones prescribed by doctors include:

  • Acetaminophen
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDs, ibuprofen, and naproxen

Supplements

Your doctor might prescribe you supplements that can help with deficiencies of different nutrients. These can be:

  • Feverfew
  • Riboflavin
  • Coenzyme Q10
  • Magnesium

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a technique that can be get done in order to get rid of tension headaches. In this technique, thin, solid needles are pierced into the skin and are activated through electrical stimulation.

In case of concerning signs and symptoms, you need to visit a certified medical specialist as soon as possible.