Headaches
(to read about migraine headaches, please scroll down)
Tension headaches are the most common form of headache. In fact, somewhere between 70-90% of the population will experience a tension headache of mild or moderate intensity during the course of their lifetime. For the most part, tension headaches are not disabling and those who suffer from them can go about their daily routines at home or at work.
The typical words used to describe a tension headache include:
- Tightness
- Band-like
- Aching
- Squeezing
- Pressure-like
The primary locations where tension headaches are experienced are:
- In the temples
- Across the forehead
- At the back of head
- In the facial muscles
It is thought that tension headaches are caused by tightening muscles created by a host of factors including stress and emotions, dehydration, lack of sleep, repetitive work postures, neck muscle strain, and activities such as clenching and grinding of the teeth to name just a few.
In patients with a severe temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, tension headaches can be experienced on a frequent or chronic basis as a result of jaw, facial and neck muscles being in a consistent state of contracture. Tension headaches may be the dominant symptom of a temporomandibular problem or may be one of many symptoms.
Treatment of Tension Headaches Can Include a Combination of:
- Medication
- Education
- Behavior modification strategies
- Counseling
- Exercises
- Physiotherapy
- Oral appliances
- Muscle injections
- Botox
- Relaxation techniques
- Improved sleep routines