Overview
Tension headaches, often called stress headaches, are the most common kind of headache. The pain is mild to moderate, and has been described as feeling like a clamp squeezing the forehead or skull.
These headaches can last from 30 minutes to a few days. They often start in the middle of the day. Click on the tab below to review treatment options.
Learn more about tension headaches in the video below. Contact us today for an appointment!
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Treatment options may include:
- Avoid causes and triggers
- Home remedies (hot bath, ice packs, better posture)
- Muscle relaxant
- Painkillers (over-the-counter and prescription)
- Relaxation techniques
- Stress management
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms include:
- Dull pain, tightness, and/or pressure in the forehead or back of neck, shoulders, and/or jaw
- Fatigue
- Headache that begins in the latter part of the day
- Irritability
- Mild sensitivity to light, noise, and/or smell
- Muscle aches
- Trouble focusing
DIAGNOSIS / TESTS
Diagnostic tests include:
- Blood tests (to check for underlying issues)
- Computed tomography scan (CT or CAT scan)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Sinus X-rays
TYPES
Forms of tension headaches include:
- Episodic tension headaches occur less than 15 days per month.
- Chronic tension headaches occur more than 15 days a month.
CAUSES
There is no single cause for tension headaches. Some triggers include:
Stress (work, family, school, friends, or relationships)
Muscle tension (from alcohol use, anxiety, fatigue, jaw problems, insufficient rest, other reasons)
FACTS
- Tension headaches can last from 30 minutes to a few days.
- They often start in the middle of the day.
- About 3% of adults have chronic daily tension headaches.
- Women are twice as likely to get them as men.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY!
Contact our office to schedule an appointment.
OUR OFFICE:
The Pain Experts of Arizona
3370 South Mercy Road
Suite 321
Gilbert, AZ 85297
Phone: 480-550-9393
Fax: 480-999-3375