What is Chronic Tension Headaches?

By Rose Williams

There is a fairly good chance that someone you know has had some sort of headache recently, just because there are so many different sorts of headaches about. These types of headache may be the result of dehydration, missed meals, migraines or other sorts 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 type of tension headache is called a chronic tension headache because the symptoms is experienced at least 15 days a month for a period of several months.

In the case of chronic tension headaches, the symptoms of the headache are similar to those of tension headaches, except that the pain never really 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.

Nevertheless, in the case of both tension headaches and chronic tension headaches, the pain can be felt either in the forehead region, in the sides of the head and sometimes even at the rear of the head. At its normal strength chronic tension headaches deliver a dull, aching pain, although sometimes the pain is like a tourniquet. In general, the pain is mild to moderately intense.

The severity of the pain varies with the general physical state of the individual concerned and it can also vary with the various sorts headaches. A lot of people begin to experience chronic tension headaches the moment they awake in the morning, whereas others have reported that their chronic tension headaches do not start until the early hours of the day.

Normal tension headaches are more common 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 the normal variety in this sort of headache, however the pain from the chronic tension headache is almost a daily occurrence and is also continuous.

People who suffer from chronic tension headaches are thought to be more prone to anxiety and depression than non-sufferers of tension headaches. It is also known that chronic tension headaches occur 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 attended to.

People who suffer from chronic tension headaches can lead normal and fulfilling lives with the proper medical advice and treatment. In time, they may understand what the triggers of their headaches are and how avoiding these triggers can prevent the onset of a bout of chronic tension headaches. - 32513

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