Friday, February 13, 2009

Tension Headache Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

By Chad Moussette

A tension headache is a frequent occurence in the lives of most individuals, and is almost always a non-life threatening situation. Even so, these tension headaches can be very painful under some circumstances.

A tension headache is classified as a "primary" headache in the medical community, putting it in the most common categorization. Tension headache symptoms include a feeling of tightness around the temples and over the eyes. This feeling is typically explained as a band-like pressure. This feeling of tightness typically forms into a painful sensation in a gradual fashion.

This pain can vary in intensity, although it is usually described as fairly mild. Tension headache symptoms can be triggered by any number of situations, and the exact causes remain a mystery. It is widely held that physical and emotional stress play a role in tension headache.

Tension headache symptoms tend to present when the patient is faced with a tough emotional or physical situation, and can develop quickly. The headache usually begins as a tight sensation, developing into pain.

Treatment for tension headache symptoms typically involves a simple regimen of over the counter medication. Any number of pain relievers should work quickly to overcome tension headache symptoms. Pain relievers such as Aleve and Ibuprofin are usually powerful enough to overcome tension headache symptoms.

Primary headaches usually happen on a random basis. Regular headaches are sometimes a sign of a more serious condition, and should be checked out with a doctor. Tension headache symptoms should occur as a result of physical or emotional stress. Headaches occuring frequently and without provocation are cause for a visit to a specialist. This is especially true when symptoms present on a chronic basis.

More serious tension headache symptoms can include severe pain, focusing behind one or more eye. If the pain should become intolerable and results in a runny eye or nose, this may be a sign of a cluster headache. Cluster headaches present as an extremely painful sensation behind the eye. This sensation is sometimes powerful enough to trigger an emotional crisis. Immediate medical care should be sought in these situations, as the pain can become excruciating. - 15437

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