Archive for February, 2009

The Frequent Tension Headache

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

Tension Headache Video

A tension headache can occur in anyone, and happens often to many people, and is almost always a non-life threatening situation.  Even so, these tension headaches are sometimes exceedingly painful.  A tension headache is placed in the primary headache category by the medical community, putting it in the most common categorization.  Tension headache symptoms include a feeling of tightness around the temples and over the eyes.  This feeling is typically explained as a band-like pressure.  This feeling of tightness typically forms into a painful sensation in a gradual fashion.

This pain can range widely in intensity, although it is usually described as fairly mild.  Tension headache symptoms can be triggered by any number of situations, and the exact causes are still a matter of some scientific uncertainty.  It is widely held that stressful physical and emotional situations can lead to a tension headache.  Tension headache symptoms emerge frequently when the patient is faced with trying situations, and can develop quickly.  The headache usually begins as a tight sensation, developing into pain. 

Treatment for tension headache symptoms is fairly simple, and can normally be accomplished with affordable over the counter medications.  Any number of pain relievers typically work well enough to relieve tension headache symptoms.  Pain relievers such as Aleve and Ibuprofin are well suited to overcoming tension headache symptoms.  Primary headaches should occur in a fairly random fashion.  Regular headaches are sometimes a sign of another issue at play, and should be checked out with a doctor.  Tension headache symptoms should occur as a result of physical or emotional stress.  Headaches that begin more randomly, and seemingly without any provocation, may be cause for concern.  This is especially true when symptoms present on a chronic basis.

More serious tension headache symptoms may present with severe pain.  If the pain should become intolerable and results in a runny eye or nose, this may be a sign of a cluster headache.  Cluster headaches present as an extremely painful sensation behind the eye.  This sensation is sometimes powerful enough to trigger an emotional crisis.  Immediate medical care is necessary in these situations.