Avoid Chronic Tension Type Headache

Who Handle Chronic Tension-Type Headache In San Diego?

Chronic tension-type headache is a disorder evolving from frequent episodic tension-type headache, with daily or very frequent episodes of a headache, typically bilateral, pressing or tightening in quality and of mild to moderate intensity, lasting hours to days, or unremitting. In fact, chronic tension-type headache is unlikely to be caused by stress alone, yet stress can contribute significantly to making headaches worse.

Chronic tension-type headache is the most common neurological complaint to present to the family physician. This  type of  a headache is a prevalent condition with substantial socioeconomic impact. Chronic tension-type headache is a common, challenging presentation in clinical practice. A chronic headache is an incapacitating condition afflicting patients at least for 15 days per month. The manner in which a chronic headache is influenced by or influences comorbid post-traumatic stress symptoms and features of cognitive dysfunction remain to be clarified.

Chronic tension-type headache

Overusing painkillers to treat TTH can cause chronic daily headaches to develop. These headaches usually occur early in the morning, and their symptoms include: poor appetite, nausea, restlessness, irritability, memory or concentration problems, and depression. Chronic daily headache is usually resistant to painkillers, and most sufferers experience migraines as well as an almost permanent TTH. The headache can vary in intensity, duration, and location, and the symptoms can be more severe than in people who have occasional TTH.

If you suffer chronic tension-type headache you are advised to see a neurologist or headache specialist.

Also, although it is hard to do, if painkiller overuse has caused you to develop chronic daily headache, you should try to withdraw from the painkillers slowly. The headaches will initially get worse, and can cause problems such as nausea, but the headache intensity and frequency will begin to reduce within two weeks after you finish the withdrawal. Read more here.

A chronic tension-type headache is caused by muscles in the head and neck tightening up and squeezing all the structures beneath (that is the skull, nerves, blood vessels).

Symptoms Of Chronic Type Tension Headache

Chronic tension-type headache evolves over time from episodic tension-type headache; when these criteria A-E are fulfilled by headache that, unambiguously, is daily and unremitting within 3 days of its first onset, code as 4.8 New daily-persistent headache. When the manner of onset is not remembered or is otherwise uncertain, code as 2.3 Chronic tension-type headache.

1. Headache occurring on ≥15 days per month on average for >3 months (≥180 days per year)¹ and fulfilling criteria B-D
2. Headache lasts hours or may be continuous
3. Headache has at least two of the following characteristics:
   1. bilateral location
   2. pressing/tightening (non-pulsating) quality
   3. mild or moderate intensity
   4. not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs
4. Both of the following:
   1. no more than one of photophobia, phonophobia or mild nausea
   2. neither moderate or severe nausea nor vomiting. See more here.

Patients with a chronic headache are defined as those who suffer from a headache on a daily or near daily basis. Some treatments that are effective for chronic tension-type headache are also useful as migraine treatment (and vice versa).

What are the treatments for chronic tension-type headache?

Painkillers

You may well be used to taking painkillers such as paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. Importantly though, you should not take painkillers for headache for more than a couple of days at a time. Also, on average, do not take them for more than two days in any week for headaches. If you take them more often, you may develop medication-induced headache (see above). Do not take painkillers to prevent headaches. Take each day as it comes. Perhaps reserve painkillers for days which are particularly bad.

Opiate painkillers such as codeine, dihydrocodeine and morphine are not normally recommended for tension-type headaches. This includes combination tablets that contain paracetamol and codeine, such as co-codamol. The reason is because opiate painkillers can make you drowsy. They are also the most likely type of painkiller to cause medication-induced headache if used regularly (described earlier).

Treating the cause: diary

It may help to keep a diary if you have frequent headaches. Note when, where, and how bad each headache is, and how long each headache lasts. Also note anything that may have caused it. A pattern may emerge and you may find a trigger to avoid. For example, hunger, eye strain, bad posture, stress, anger, etc. Read full article here.

Chronic Tension-Type Headache Has Negative Impact

Patients with a chronic headache can benefit from many options that might not be available in their local community.  An episodic headache can occur several times a month, while a chronic headache can occur almost every day. Approaches that help to reduce the stress associated with a chronic headache can also help control the headaches themselves. Migraine and chronic headache can have a profoundly negative impact on a young person’s academic performance and participation in social and school activities.

Finding and avoiding the chronic tension-type headache that can result in disturbed sleep, and sedating medications used to treat pain can aggravate sleep- disordered breathing.  Although they are not medically dangerous, a chronic headache can turn out to be a major obstacle and may not let perform your daily activities. Anything you want to avoid this kind of a headache, evaluated thoroughly and properly and experience relief then please reach us here, Tel: (619) 831-8777.

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