What is Chronic Tension Headaches?

By Rose Williams

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

A tension headache can feel like a tight rubber band around your head, however, the pain from tension headaches goes away after a little time. But just think about having to suffer from a tension headache every day - for weeks. This kind of tension headache is called a chronic tension headache because the pain 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 hangs down onto their shoulders.

In the case of both tension headaches and chronic tension headaches, the pain can be located at the forehead region, sides of the head and sometimes even at the back of the head. At its usual strength the chronic tension headache is a dull, aching pain, although sometimes the pain is like a pressurized tightness. Generally the pain is mild to moderately intense.

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

Normal tension headaches are more usual 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 a normal tension headache, although the pain from the chronic tension headache is almost a daily occurrence and is also of a continuous nature.

People who suffer from chronic tension headaches are thought to be more susceptible to anxiety and depression than non-sufferers of tension headaches. It is also known that chronic tension headaches are more common during or after heightened periods of stress and anxiety. Anyone who has mood disorders like depression or anxiety should have these conditions treated prior to getting their chronic tension headache seen to.

Those suffering from chronic tension headaches can still lead pretty normal and fulfilling lives with the correct medication and treatment. In time, they may come to understand what starts their headaches and how preventing those triggers occurring can stop the onset of another bout of chronic tension headaches. - 32503

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here