| What are tension headaches? | | | | the entire head is affected in a diffuse manner. The |
| Also known as muscle contraction or chronic daily | | | | pain is described as a dull, aching or squeezing but |
| headache, this is the most common variety of | | | | others often describe sensations such as fullness, |
| headache. Most people will have suffered from tension | | | | tightness or pressure. Sometimes there may be the |
| headaches at some point in their lives and never seek | | | | sensation that the head is surrounded by a band or |
| medical assistance but for a small minority of patients | | | | being compressed in a vice. The onset of the attack is |
| the condition is severe, long-standing and may be | | | | usually more gradual than in migraine and the duration |
| difficult to treat. | | | | of the attack may range from hours to years. |
| What causes tension headaches and who is at risk? | | | | Frequently the sufferer will claim the pain is present |
| It was long believed that tension headaches were due | | | | every day without a break, although the intensity may |
| to overcontraction of the muscles covering the scalp | | | | vary considerably during this time. Sleep is not usually |
| and back of the neck. However, all types of chronic | | | | affected, although the headache is often present on |
| (prolonged) headache may give rise to increased | | | | waking or soon after. |
| muscle tension and individuals with tension headaches | | | | Tension headaches rarely begin during childhood or |
| often describe the continuous squeezing discomfort | | | | adolescence but more commonly during middle age. |
| even when completely relaxed. | | | | They are more common in women than men. |
| Despite this condition being one of the most common | | | | What is the treatment for tension headaches? |
| to affect humans, surprisingly little is understood of the | | | | One particularly useful drug for treating tension |
| exact mechanisms giving rise to the symptoms. | | | | headache is amitriptyline; this is taken at night before |
| It is not uncommon for tension headaches and | | | | going to bed. Treatment is commenced at a low dose |
| migraine (another type of headache described in a | | | | and gradually built up over a period of weeks to |
| separate factsheet) to occur in the same individual, | | | | minimise problematic side effects which may include |
| often with the migraine attack subsiding and evolving | | | | morning drowsiness. However, this side effect usually |
| into a tension headache. | | | | improves within a few days to weeks when the |
| Tension headaches are undoubtedly more common in | | | | headaches should be improving. Amitriptyline is also an |
| people suffering from anxiety and depression and | | | | effective antidepressant and may helpfully improve the |
| effective treatment of these conditions may result in | | | | anxiety commonly associated with tension headaches. |
| improvement of the headache. As tension headaches | | | | Complementary therapy |
| can last for a long time, this often arouses the | | | | Acupuncture, the Alexander technique, reflexology and |
| suspicion in the sufferer and his or her doctor that a | | | | relaxation exercises linked to visualisation with |
| brain tumour could be the cause of symptoms. | | | | feedback may all be helpful at reducing stress and the |
| What are the common symptoms and complications | | | | chronic anxiety often associated with tension |
| of tension headaches? | | | | headache. |
| This headache usually affects both sides of the head, | | | | Identifying particular causes of stress and making |
| often involving the back of the head and neck but also | | | | appropriate changes in lifestyle (eg taking up regular |
| frequently the sides and front of the head. Commonly, | | | | exercise) may also prove effective. |