Disease-A-Month. Managing a tension headache is often a balance between fostering healthy habits, finding effective nondrug treatments and using medications appropriately. This type of tension headache lasts hours and may be continuous. Increased muscle tenderness, a common symptom of tension headaches, may result from a sensitized pain system. Background: Relaxation is generally accepted as a treatment for TTH. Occurrence. Manage your stress level. 2015;61:233. Stress and muscle tension are often factors in these headaches. If your headaches occur 15 or more days a month for at least three months, they're considered chronic. In: Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. Lancet. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. National Clinical Guideline Centre. Headache and other craniofacial pain. The use of any over-the-counter pain reliever should be limited to no more than two or three days per week. Daroff RB, et al. In addition to regular exercise, techniques such as biofeedback training and relaxation therapy can help reduce stress. Accessed May 28, 2016. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Simple analgesics, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or aspirin, are reasonable choices. Langemark M, Olesen J. Sulpiride and paroxetine in the treatment of chronic tension-type headache. Occasionally, headaches may indicate a serious medical condition, such as a brain tumor or rupture of a weakened blood vessel (aneurysm). Accessed May 28, 2016. Managing a tension headache is often a balance between fostering healthy habits, finding effective nondrug treatments and using medications appropriately. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Infrequent episodic tension-type headaches are treated with NSAIDs, while chronic and frequent episodic forms may benefit from prophylactic amitriptyline. 1987 Dec. 7(4):249-55. . Pharmacological treatment: Tension headache is a heterogeneous disease. Chronic tension headache is often present for years by the time a comprehensive treatment plan is created for a particular person that is effective. Unlike some forms of migraine, tension headaches usually aren't associated with visual disturbances, nausea or vomiting. Infrequent episodic tension-type headache needs only treatment for the individual episodes (acute treatment). The following may also ease a tension headache: Apply a heating pad or ice pack to your head for 5 to 10 minutes several times a day. Even if you have a history of headaches, see your doctor if the pattern changes or your headaches suddenly feel different. See our safety precautions in response to COVID-19. Frequent episodic tension headaches may become chronic. Signs and symptoms of a tension headache include: Tension headaches are divided into two main categories — episodic and chronic. Unfortunately, repeated use of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can actually cause another type of headache, overuse headaches. Infrequent episodic tension-type headache. Frequent episodic tension headaches occur less than 15 days a month for at least three months. In the meantime, overuse of pain relievers for your headaches may interfere with the effects of the preventive drugs. These include the drugs aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen (Aleve). Mayo Clinic facts about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Our COVID-19 patient and visitor guidelines, plus trusted health information, Mayo Clinic Health System patient vaccination updates, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, FREE book offer — Mayo Clinic Health Letter, Time running out - 40% off Online Mayo Clinic Diet ends soon. Tricyclic antidepressants appear to be useful for prevention. Accessed May 28, 2016. This content does not have an English version. Osteopathy is considered by some practitioners to be useful for headache management but there is limited scientific evidence regarding … Tension Headache Treatment. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Headache: Hope through research. A variety of strategies can help reduce the severity and frequency of chronic tension headaches without using medicine. Tension-type headaches. It can also feel like there’s a heavy weight attached to your head.Your neck or shoulder muscles may also hurt or feel sore along with the headache. Therefore, a single type of treatment will not be effective in all patients. Tension-type headache (TTH). Chronic pain can make you anxious or depressed and affect your relationships, your productivity and the quality of your life. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. So don't get frustrated if you haven't seen improvements shortly after you begin taking the drug. 7th ed. London (UK): National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE); 2012. Infrequent episodic tension-type headaches. Painkillers, taken only when needed for the pain, work well in most cases. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Treatments for tension headaches are available. Accessed May 29, 2016. Tension-type headache in adults: Pathophysiology, clinical features, and diagnosis. 2015;61:233. International Headache Society. Improve your posture. Accessed May 28, 2016. Using medications in conjunction with stress management techniques may be more effective than is either treatment alone in reducing your tension headaches. Examples include aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). And if you're caught in a stressful situation, consider stepping back. Treatment of Tension Headache. 7th ed. Pain in the neck may often accompany a tension headache. Accessed May 29, 2016. It can be a constant pain or it can come and … A blind, controlled study. Headache and other craniofacial pain. A tension headache is generally a diffuse, mild to moderate pain in your head that's often described as feeling like a tight band around your head. Cephalalgia. Some people get more pain relief with combination products containing caffeine. Evidence is poor for SSRIs, propranolol and muscle relaxants. Accessed May 28, 2016. If you have any of these signs or symptoms, seek emergency care: The cause of tension headaches is not known. Headaches: Diagnosis and management of headaches in young people and adults. Usually, the pain of a tension-type headache feels different from Migraine pain.Tension-type headache usually feels like there’s a too-tight headband squeezing your head. Rest, ice packs or a long, hot shower may be all you need to relieve a tension headache. Semenov IA. International Headache Society. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Accessed May 31, 2015. Headaches: Diagnosis and management of headaches in young people and adults. Other tension-type headache treatment options include: Home remedies, like placing a hot or cold compress where it hurts, may help you feel better. Disease-A-Month. Langemark M, Olesen J. Pericranial tenderness in tension headache. Headaches: In depth. A variety of medications, both OTC and prescription, are available to reduce the pain of a headache, including: Pain relievers. People who experience pain or pressure in their head or pain in head and eyes,more than … 2013;97:281. Learning to cope with stress and to relax may help. Go hot or cold. Treatment Neurology & Neurosurgery Tension Headaches Treatments Your doctor may prescribe drugs to prevent and treat tension headaches. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/pain/headachefacts.htm. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. They do cause a steady ache, rather than a throbbing one, and tend to affect both sides of the head. Most common type of headache https://nccih.nih.gov/health/pain/headachefacts.htm. An explanatory double-blind trial. They affect both sides of the head and can often be … Headache hygiene tips. © 1998-2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Headache 2012; 52:48. The pain from TTH can last from anywhere from 30 minutes to several days. Prescription medications include naproxen (Naprosyn), indomethacin (Indocin) and ketorolac (Ketorolac Tromethamine). An increased sensitivity to either light or sound can occur with a tension headache, but these aren't common symptoms. Experts used to think tension headaches stemmed from muscle contractions in the face, neck and scalp, perhaps as a result of heightened emotions, tension or stress. Accessed May 28, 2016. A distinction must be made between the episodic and chronic variants. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. What pressure technique should you perform. Freitag F. Managing and treating tension-type headache. A tension headache is a slow-building headache. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. In some cases, an antidepressant medication called amitriptyline may be prescribed to help prevent chronic tension-type headaches, although there's limited evidence of its effectiveness. Most patients try to find a cure on their own. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Additionally, living a healthy lifestyle may help prevent headaches: Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Tension headaches may be chronic, occurring often, or every day. American Headache Society Committee for Headache Education. Chronic tension-type headache. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Accessed May 28, 2016. Take a hot bath or shower to relax tense muscles. If you have chronic or recurrent headaches, your doctor may conduct physical and neurological exams, then try to pinpoint the type and cause of your headaches using these approaches: Your doctor can learn a lot about your headaches from a description of your pain. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Be sure to include these details: If you have unusual or complicated headaches, your doctor may order tests to rule out serious causes of head pain, such as a tumor. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. If you are aged under 16 you should not be offered aspirin. They should take into account your preferences, any other health problems you have and the possible side effects of each drug. Plus, if you have frequent episodic tension headaches, you can also have migraines. International Headache Society. A tension headache (tension-type headache) is the most common type of headache, and yet its causes aren't well-understood. Tension headaches can be difficult to distinguish from migraines. Classically manifesting as a non-pulsatile, bandlike pressure that wraps around the head, patients often self-medicate with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or analgesic drugs, such as ibuprofen or aspirin. Attention to lifestyle factors, such as stress, posture and exercise, may help to prevent headaches. Treatment for tension headaches include prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, combination drugs containing aspirin, acetaminophen, caffeine, and stress management. This video shows what to do if you're dealing with a tension type headache. Obviously, the best treatment is to eliminate the cause of tension headache, which only a doctor can determine. Because tension headaches are so common, their effect on job productivity and overall quality of life is considerable, particularly if they're chronic. Caution is advised regarding the use of painkillers, since these can in themselves cause headache. This content does not have an Arabic version. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Infrequent episodic tension-type headache. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Take frequent computer breaks to prevent eye strain. Using pain relievers on your own (more than twice a week) increases your risk of developing chronic daily headaches. © 1998-2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). One of the most popular tension headache treatment option is Tension-type headaches (TTH) account for 90% of all headaches diagnosed by healthcare professionals. In chronic tension headache, a variety of contributing factors must be addressed: Headache: Hope through research. Stress can have many negative impacts within the body. American Headache Society Committee for Headache Education. 2(8200):898-9. . Once identified, a game plan can be created to curtail the impact of each stressor. A tension headache is generally a diffuse, mild to moderate pain in your head that's often described as feeling like a tight band around your head. They can cause a pressing or tightening pain and sometimes nausea and sensitivity to light or … http://ihsclassification.org/en/02_klassifikation/02_teil1/02.00.00_tension.html. Preventive medications may require several weeks or more to build up in your system before they take effect. Use Essential Oils. Tension-type headache (TTH). International Headache Society. http://www.achenet.org/resources/trigger_avoidance_information/. High doses of ibuprofen and aspirin irritate the stomach. If tension headaches disrupt your life or you need to take medication for your headaches more than twice a week, see your doctor. Relaxation training includes deep breathing exercises and listening to soothing music. If a tension-type headache can be relieved by relaxing, taking a warm bath, using an ice pack, or taking a nap, that's the best course of action. Tricyclic antidepressant medicines (such as amitriptyline or nortriptyline) can be used to help prevent tension headaches. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/detail_headache.htm. Schedule your appointment now for safe in-person care. http://ihsclassification.org/en/02_klassifikation/02_teil1/02.00.00_tension.html. Accessed May 28, 2016. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, and everyone gets them every now and then. Pain medication, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are effective for the treatment of tension headache. But research suggests muscle contraction isn't the cause. Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks, especially if you have frequent or chronic headaches that aren't relieved by pain medication and other therapies. Histamine is a chemical found naturally in the body that plays a role … Treatment creates a couple of distinctive reactions when it is injected into the body visual! 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