Tension headache

Tension headache: Introduction

Tension headache: Tension headache is named not only for the role of stress in triggering the pain, but also for the contraction of neck, face, and scalp muscles ... more about Tension headache.

Tension headache: Tension-type headaches can be episodic or chronic.Episodic tension-type headaches are defined as tension-type headaches occurring fewer than 15 days a month, whereas chronic tension headaches occur 15 days or more a month for at least 6 months. Tension-type headaches can last from minutes to days, months or even years, though a typical tension headache lasts 4-6 hours. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Tension headache is available below.

Symptoms of Tension headache

• Headache - usually tightness affecting entire head on both sides
• Neckache
• Constant mild, moderate or severe bilateral headache
• The pain can radiate from the neck, back, eyes, or other muscle groups in the body
• more symptoms...»

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Tension headache:

• Nerve Neuropathy: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Diabetes Test Kits
  • Home Blood Glucose Testing Kits
• more tests...»

Tension headache: Complications

Read more about complications of Tension headache.

Medical Textbooks Online about Tension headache

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Tension headache?

• Misdiagnosis of Tension headache
• Failure to diagnose Tension headache
• Hidden causes of Tension headache (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: Tension headache

Tension headache: Medical Mistakes

• Migraine -- Health Mistakes
• more mistakes...»

Tension headache: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Tension headache:

• Pain
• Arthritis & Pain
• Injury & Recovery
• Sleeping & Insomnia
• more product offers...»

Tension headache: Undiagnosed Conditions

Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:

• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Undiagnosed:
  • Adult ADHD -- Undiagnosed - ADHD can be undiagnosed in adults.
  • ADHD -- Undiagnosed
  • Alzheimer Disease -- Undiagnosed
  • Migraine -- Undiagnosed
  • Concentration Disorders -- Undiagnosed
  • Stroke -- Undiagnosed
  • Bipolar Disorder -- Undiagnosed
  • Schizophrenia -- Undiagnosed
  • Epilepsy -- Undiagnosed
• more undiagnosed conditions...»

Misdiagnosis and Tension headache

Migraine an undiagnosed cause of headache: It is surprising that many migraine sufferers are not initially diagnosed. Although the condition...read more »

Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps, particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes. However, there are also various other causes. See causes of leg cramps or ...read more »

Mild traumatic brain injury often remains undiagnosed: Although the symptoms of severe brain injury are hard to miss, it is less clear for milder injuries, or even those causing a mild concussion...read more »

MTBI misdiagnosed as balance problem: When a person has symptoms such as vertigo or dizziness, a diagnosis of brain injury may go overlooked. This is particularly true of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI...read more »

Post-concussive brain injury often misdiagnosed: A study found that soldiers who had suffered a concussive injury in battle often were misdiagnosed on...read more »

Children with migraine often misdiagnosed: A migraine often fails to be correctly diagnosed in pediatric patients. These patients are not the typical migraine...read more »

Pituitary conditions often undiagnosed cause of symptoms: There are a variety of symptoms that can be caused by a pituitary disorder (see symptoms of pituitary disorders...read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of multiple sclerosis). See symptoms of...read more »

Rare cases of headache: Headache is one of the common symptoms presenting in general practice. It needs a sound diagnostic and management strategy as the problem can be confusing. The key to diagnosing the condition is to know and...read more »

Subarachnoid hemorrhage mimics migraine: Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs due to spontaneous bleeding in the subarachnoid space. It presents with severe...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Tension headache

Tension headache: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research related physicians and medical specialists:

• Nerve Specialists:
  • Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine
  • Neurology (Brain/CNS Specialists)
  • Pediatric Neurology (Child Brain Specialist)
  • Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
• Pain Specialists:
  • Pain Medicine
  • Rheumatology (Arthritis / Joint Pain)
• Arthritis & Joint Health Specialists (Rheumatology):
  • Rheumatology (Joint Health)
  • Pediatric Rheumatology (Child Joint Health)
• more specialists...»

Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:

• Rate Your Doctor Online
• Research Your Doctor Online
• Review Patient Surveys About Your Doctor
• Research local specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Tension headache: Rare Types

Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:

• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Rare Types:
  • Adult ADHD -- Rare Types
  • ADHD -- Rare Types
  • Alzheimer Disease -- Rare Types
  • Migraine -- Rare Types
  • Concentration Disorders -- Rare Types
  • Stroke -- Rare Types
  • Bipolar Disorder -- Rare Types
  • Schizophrenia -- Rare Types
  • Epilepsy -- Rare Types
• more rare diseases...»

Causes of Tension headache

• Stress - Usually occurs in the afternoon after long stressful work hours
• Sleep deprivation
• Uncomfortable stressful position and/or bad posture
• Irregular meal time
• Eyestrain
• more causes...»

See full list of 6 causes of Tension headache

More information about causes of Tension headache:

• Underlying causes of Tension headache

Treatments for Tension headache

• Aspirin
• Acetaminophen
• Propoxyphene - a stronger medication sometimes used.
• Codeine - a stronger medication sometimes used.
• Analgesics - ibuprofen, paracetamol
• more treatments...»

See full list of 6 treatments for Tension headache

News Archives for Tension headache

Medical news articles related to Tension headache include:

• Health Tip: Alleviate Caregiver Stress
• Health Tip: Learn to Manage Your Stress
• Across the U.S., Stress Varies by Region
• Stressed Health Care Workers Battle 'Compassion Fatigue'
• Health Tip: Preparing for a Stress Test
• Tweaking Hormones Might Ease Chronic Stress
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Evidence Based Medicine Research for Tension headache

Medical research articles related to Tension headache include:

• A patient gets occasional headaches post exercise (aerobic), what might the cause be and any suggestions regarding management?
• Tension headache, chronic
• Salbutamol and ipratropium
• Peppermint Oil
• Salbutamol for inhalation
• Mind-Body Therapies for Headache
• more research...»

Click here to find more evidence-based articles on the TRIP Database

Videos for Tension headache

Patient Surveys for Tension headache

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Tension headache
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Tension headache

Prognosis for Tension headache: Tension headaches that do not occur as a symptom of another condition may be painful, but are not harmful. It is usually possible to receive relief through treatment. Tension headaches that occur as a symptom of another condition are usually relieved when the underlying condition is treated.

More about prognosis of Tension headache

Reseach about Tension headache

Visit our research pages for current research about Tension headache treatments.

Clinical Trials for Tension headache

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Tension headache include:

• Psychological Assessment and Treatment of Chronic Benign Headache - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Gonyautoxin in the Treatment of Chronic Tension-Type Headache - This study has been terminated (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Gonyautoxin
• Prophylactic Effect of Memantine in Chronic Tension-Type Headache - This study is not yet open for patient recruitment (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - memantine
• Cortical Reorganisation in Patients With Primary Headache Disorders - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Headstrong Intervention for Pediatric Headache - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• more trials...»

See full list of 7 Clinical Trials for Tension headache

Statistics for Tension headache

• Medical statistics for Tension headache
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Tension headache
• Death and Mortality statistics for Tension headache
• Society statistics for Tension headache

Tension headache: Broader Related Topics

• Headache
• Muscle contraction headache
• Head Conditions
• more types...»

Types of Tension headache

Types of Tension headache

• Episodic tension headache - occasional episodes
• Chronic tension headache
• more types...»

Read more about Types of Tension headache

Stories from Users Related to Tension headache

• Is this a medical condition or just daily stress build up
• There is no stress at home - ack!
• Stressed out student
• Tension, Sex, Excercise Induced Headache
• Stress or something else?
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• lump: back of neck on top of spine. tension headaches.
• stress maybe
• Stress Tests
• Stressing about having an STD
• Chronic tension headache
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• Stress and anger during icsi
• Chronic Tension Headache
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• confused/stressed
• if this is Tibial Stress ??
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• Intermittent, non-tension pneumothorax?
• Stress ???

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Tension headache, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Tension headache

Tension headache is named not only for the role of stress in triggering the pain, but also for the contraction of neck, face, and scalp muscles brought on by stressful events. Tension headache is a severe but temporary form of muscle-contraction headache. The pain is mild to moderate and feels like pressure is being applied to the head or neck. The headache usually disappears after the period of stress is over. Ninety percent of all headaches are classified as tension/muscle contraction headaches. (Source: excerpt from Headache - Hope Through Research: NINDS)

Definitions of Tension headache:

A common condition characterized by recurrent occipital, temporal, or frontal pressure-like HEADACHE associated with nuchal discomfort. Mid-life onset and bilateral pain are features which tend to distinguish this condition from COMMON MIGRAINE. ANXIETY and DEPRESSION may aggravate this condition. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp182-3) - (Source - Diseases Database)

A headache located at the back of the head; usually caused by body tension resulting from overwork or psychological stress - (Source - WordNet 2.1)