Tension and headache is the most common type of headache among adults. Tension headaches may occur periodically (“incidentally”, less than 15 days a month) or daily (“chronically” more than 15 days per month).
Occasional tension headache : Transient tension can be described as a mild to moderate headache in the form of waves of pain, contraction or pressure that occurs around the front or back of the head and neck. This headache may last from 30 minutes to several days. Tension headaches usually begin gradually, and often occur in the middle of the day. The intensity of the tension headache increases significantly with its frequency.
Chronic tension headache : Chronic tension headache comes and goes over a long period of time. The pain is usually a palpitations and affects the front of the top or sides of the head. Although the pain may vary in severity throughout the day, the pain is almost always. Chronic tension headache does not affect vision, balance or strength. Tension headaches do not prevent a person from performing daily tasks.
Who gets the headache?
A study in the United States found that about 30% -80% of the US adult population suffers from tension headaches. About 3% suffer from chronic stress and headaches. The study also showed that women are more likely to suffer from tension headaches than men.
Most people do not suffer from occasional tension headaches more than once or twice a month, but headaches can occur more frequently.
Chronic tension headaches tend to be more common in females. And many people who suffer from chronic stress headaches have had a headache for a long time.
What causes tension and headaches?
There is no single reason for tension headaches. This type of headache has no inherited trait in families. In some people, tension headaches are caused by a tightening of muscles in the back, neck, and scalp. This may be the cause of muscle tension by: poor posture or the presence of psychological or mental stress, including depression, anxiety and fatigue as well as hunger or hyperactivity. In other cases, muscle tension is not part of the tension headache, and the cause becomes unknown.
Tension headache is usually caused by a kind of environmental or internal stress. The most common sources of stress include family, social relationships, friends, work, and school. Examples of stressors include:
Having trouble with family / difficult family life, having a new baby, having no close friends, going back to school or training; preparing for exams or exams; going on holiday; starting a new job; losing jobs; Or other activities, desire for idealism, lack of adequate sleep, (participation in many activities / organizations). All of the above constitute psychological and physical stresses that may appear as stress headaches.
The cause of occasional tension headaches is usually caused by a painful condition or stress accumulation. Daily stress can lead to chronic stress and headaches.