About Chronic Tension Headaches

By Rose Williams

There is a fairly good chance that someone you know has had some type of headache recently, just because there are so many different sorts of headaches around. These sorts of headache may be the result of dehydration, missed meals, migraines or other kinds of headache like a tension headache or even a chronic tension headache.

A tension headache can feel like a tight elastic band wrapped tightly around your head, however, the pain from a tension headache goes away after a short time. But imagine having to suffer from a tension headache every day - for weeks on end. This kind of tension headache is classified as a chronic tension headache because the symptoms may be experienced at least 15 days a month for a period of several months.

In the case of chronic tension headaches, the symptoms of the headaches are quite similar to those of tension headaches, except that the pain never actually seems to go away. People who have experienced chronic tension headaches, say that the pain is as if they were wearing a pressure band around their heads. Other people have described severe chronic tension headache pain as a hooded cape that drapes down onto their shoulders.

In the case of both tension headaches and chronic tension headaches, the pain can be felt either in the forehead region, in the sides of the head or sometimes even at the rear of the head. At its usual strength the chronic tension headache is a dull, aching pain, although sometimes the pain is like a tourniquet. Generally the pain is mild to moderately severe.

The severity of the pain varies with the general physical state of the individual concerned and it can also vary with the different kinds headaches. A lot of people start to experience chronic tension headaches as soon as they awake in the morning, whereas others say that their chronic tension headaches do not start until the early hours of the morning.

Normal tension headaches are more common than chronic tension headaches, however twice as many women as men suffer from chronic tension headaches. The duration and the severity of the pain is about the same as the normal variety in this sort of headache, however the pain from the chronic tension headache is almost a daily occurrence and is also continuous.

Those who suffer from chronic tension headaches are thought to be more prone to anxiety and depression than non-sufferers of chronic tension headaches. It is also well-documented that chronic tension headaches are more common during or after heightened periods of stress and anxiety. Furthermore, anyone who has mood disorders like depression or anxiety should have these conditions treated before getting their chronic tension headache attended to.

Those who suffer from chronic tension headaches can lead normal and fulfilling lives with the proper medication and treatment. Over time, they may understand what the triggers of their headaches are and how avoiding these triggers can prevent the onset of a bout of chronic tension headaches. - 30309

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