What Causes Chronic Tension Headaches

Chronic tension headaches are a serious ailment that can detract from enjoyment of daily life.  Daily activities are subject to interruption by painful episodes that can occur any time.  Chronic tension headaches are known to cause depression in some.  It is important that chronic tension headaches receive prompt attention and medical care.  Fortunately, the medical community is very experienced with the problem of chronic tension headache, and has several avenues of treatment available for sufferers.  In fact, headaches are actually divided into three individual categories.

The majority of headaches suffered are put into what is known as the primary category.  A primary headache is frequently brought on by emotional or physical stress, and has the most frequent rate of occurence by far.  Primary headaches are almost never life threatening, but are known to cause significant discomfort.  This pain can impair enjoyment of daily activities, making even basic functioning difficult.  Although the actual causes of chronic tension headache are still unknown, it is widely held that the symptoms are brought on by a tightening of the muscles that surround the base of the skull.  This tightening comes on as a sensation of tightness at first in the patient's cranial area. 

Cluster and secondary headaches occur on a far less frequent basis, but are much more serious.  To treat this kind of headache, serious medical attention is required.  Cluster headaches are easily identified by the pain level that they induce.  Patients frequently describe cluster headaches as like having an icepick driven into the eye.  Treatment includes powerful sedatives and pain medications.  Secondary headaches usually indicate some other issue that is at work.

Chronic tension headaches should be treated with an eye toward stress management.  Physical and emotional stress can be a significant source of chronic tension headaches.  Circumstances that trigger significant emotional stress can easily lead to chronic tension headaches. Prolonged physical stress can also be tied directly to chronic tension headaches.  Steps to manage both kinds of stress should be undertaken in order to reduce the occurence of chronic tension headaches.  If these steps do not succeed, then further treatment with more powerful pain medications may be necessary.  Chronic tension headaches that occur on a regular basis should be a signal to see a doctor.

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