Symptoms of Tension Headache
Tension headache, although thought to be causing from migraine, is actually caused by muscle tone. Stress is just an additive effect. Tension headache does not interfere with daily life. It is just a mild pain affecting the whole head. Usually patients describe it as heaviness, pressure and compression on the head. Symptoms of migraine like nausea, vomiting and light sensitivity are not present in this condition.
Common tension headache gets more severe at the end of the day and the patient feels relieved while asleep. Also, most patients wake up with pain as well and these are the ones who tend to clench their teeth. Because the clenching is more intense at nights and this causes the muscles in the head and neck area to tone.
Tension headache is the most common type of headaches. 80% of people experience this at least once and 40% of these develop a chronic and complicated tension headache. Mostly, there is no need to use drugs. And since the pain goes away or reduces when the patient rests, people tend to not taking this seriously. They claim that they do not have a headache problem when asked. In fact they say “I get headaches just as much as everyone else does.”
Tension headache sufferers are detail oriented and perfectionist people. They might be suffering from depression, anxiety and suppressed anger in various levels. Also, attention and concentration deficit are present. Patients realize that their mental and intellectual productivities are negatively affected.