There is no doubt about the fact that most people often overlook the issue of tension headaches. It is a medical issue where you constantly feel a tight band squeezing your head. This can create a lot of discomfort and uneasiness in your life. However, tension headaches can sometimes appear to be minor nuisance but can lead to major issues and can hamper with your daily life activities and productivity. Thus, it is essential to know everything about it before it is too late. 

Understand tension headaches 

Most people are unaware of tension headaches. It is a common type of headache. It mostly involves mild or moderate pain. Somehow it can offer a feeling of a tight band wrapped around your head or temples. This issue can happen to anyone and at any age but is common among adults and older teens. When a person is getting a tension headache, it can be triggering and challenging. Moreover, it can be cumbersome to distinguish between migraines and tension headaches, but there are no symptoms of vomiting, nausea, or visual disturbances. 

What are the kinds of tension headaches? 

There are mainly two kinds of it, such as: 

Episodic tension headaches

The initial kind of it is episodic. This can occur for less than 15 days every month. However, they can last for around 30 minutes or till a week. Episodic tension headaches can be known when you get a feeling of pressure or a slight tightness or tight band around your head. The intensity of these headaches are moderate and do not get extreme with any sort of -physical activity. 

Chronic tension headaches 

Another kind of tension headache is chronic. It can be experienced for more than 15 days every month. Plus, they can extend till three months. A person facing chronic tension headaches can experience it for hours and it can hamper with the daily routine. It can even lead to mild nausea. 

The reason behind tension headaches 

There are an ample number of tension headaches causes. These can make it difficult to avoid the entire situation in the long term. Here are a few of the reasons or causes behind tension headaches: 

• It happens because of contraction or tensed neck and scalp muscles. The tightening of the muscles can lead to stress, anxiety, and even depression. 
• Physical activities can even contribute to tension headaches. For instance, keeping your head in a certain position. 
• Any health issues can lead to tension headaches like colds, flu, etc. 
• A poor lifestyle can create tension headaches. If you are involved in excessive smoking, caffeine consumption, alcohol consumption, etc. can result in this situation. 
• Another one of the tension headaches causes involves living or sitting in a cold room while keeping your neck or head in a certain position. 

How to treat the issue of tension headaches? 

There are mainly two approaches followed for tension headache treatment. The approaches are mentioned below: 

Pharmacological method 

The pain relievers can offer a lot of relief from tension headaches. However, the dosage instructions are to be given by an experienced doctor to avoid any rebound headaches or any organ failure. Also, if there are any constant tension headaches, then a strong pain reliever is suggested. 

Non-pharmacological method 

The non-pharmacological method involves certain methods like lifestyle changes, biofeedback, acupuncture, stress management methods, massages, chiropractic care, and much more. 

The right time to see a doctor

A number of tension headaches can be manageable but there are some serious situations where a medical expert is required. Here are some situations where you might need a tension headaches treatment by a medical expert: 

• When you experience an unbearable headache.
• When along with the headache you are facing confusion, slurred speech, and even changes in your vision. 
• If you have crossed the age of 50 and experience changes in the headache pattern. 
• Constant headaches that hinder your everyday routine. 

Precautionary tips for tension headaches

Here are some simple precautionary tips for tension headaches: 

• Try doing regular exercise as it releases any chemicals and helps reduce persistent headaches. 
• Take a nutritious diet and stay hydrated at all times. 
• Try to not hamper your everyday sleep cycle. A good sleep cycle will help you avoid tension headaches. 
• Try to avoid excess caffeine intake and overuse of your pain medicines. 
• Inculcate stress management techniques in your regime. These techniques can benefit in simplifying your daily routine, ease muscle tensions, and lead a healthy life. 
• Quit smoking and drinking. The nicotine present in it can reduce blood flow to your brain. 

Endnote 

Tension headaches can be hard to deal with if you don’t know about them. They can hamper your daily regime and can even lead to serious issues. However, by understanding tension headaches from the above-mentioned information, you will be able to treat them, seek a doctor’s advice at the right time, and bring impressive changes in your life.