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Types Of Headache: Tension Type Headache |
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One of the most common types of headaches,
tension type headache is felt as a dull, aching pain, which sometimes
becomes severe. However, it does not have any specific location and is
spread over the region of the neck or the scalp. The pain is
non-pulsating in nature, affecting both sides of the head.
As the
name suggests, it is caused by tensing of the muscles of the back and
the neck. When these muscles contract, the pain starts, which might be
accompanied by a feeling of tightness or pressure on the head.
This extremely common headache is quite different from other
kinds of headaches as it usually starts as a dull, aching pain or as a
tightness and builds up to a severe intensity. Noticeably, it is quite
different from the cluster headaches which build up in a matter of
minutes and end just as quickly.
But then they are similar to
migraine in the sense that there might be certain precipitating factors
which might increase the pain. Bright lights, sounds and other
environmental stresses contribute to the list.
The tension-type
headache can be further classified into two types - episodic and chronic
headache. This is differentiated on the basis of severity and frequency
of symptoms. Although the symptoms for both are quite similar, yet there
are some other factors on the basis of which they can be distinguished.
But first, let us take a look at the common symptoms.
In both the
cases, the muscles of the head and the neck contract. Hence, there is a
tightening sensation around the head and the neck. The pain can occur in
the forehead, temples, neck or back.
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