Muscle contraction headaches

A type of headache caused by tension or sustained muscle contraction. The pain is usually a steady pain and other symptoms may include a sore scalp, nausea and blurred vision. Degenerative arthritis of the neck, temporomandibular joint dysfunction or physical postures may trigger one of these headaches. Also can be called tension Headache or  Stress Headache.

Tension headaches typically feel like a tightening on both sides of the head. They can last for minutes or days, and can happen frequently. Tension headaches are often the result of stress or bad posture, which causes tightening of the muscles in the neck and the scalp. Tension headaches often worsen with noise and hot, stuffy environments. This type of headache occurs mostly in women over age 20.

Tension-type headache is a nonspecific headache, which is not vascular or migrainous, and is not related to organic disease. The most common form of headache, it may be related to muscle tightening in the back of the neck and/or scalp. There are two general classifications of tension-type headache: episodic and chronic, differentiated by frequency and severity of symptoms. Both are characterized as dull, aching and non-pulsating pain and affect both sides of the head.

In the past, many scientists believed that the primary cause of the pain of muscle-contraction headache was sustained muscle tension. However, a growing number of authorities now believe that a far more complex mechanism is responsible.

Symptoms for both types are similar and may include:

• Muscles between head and neck contract
• A tightening band-like sensation around the neck and/or head which is a “vice-like” ache
• Pain primarily occurs in the forehead, temples or the back on head and/or neck

Episodic tension-type headache occurs randomly and is usually triggered by temporary stress, anxiety, fatigue or anger. They are what most of us consider “stress headaches.” It may disappear with the use of over-the-counter analgesics, withdrawal from the source of stress or a relatively brief period of relaxation.

For this type of headache, over-the-counter drugs of choice are aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Combination products with caffeine can enhance the action of the analgesics.

Chronic tension-type headache is a daily or continuous headache, which may have some variability in the intensity of the pain during a 24-hour cycle. It is always present. If a sufferer is taking medication daily or almost daily and is receiving little or no relief from the pain, then a physician should be seen for diagnosis and treatment.

The primary drug of choice for chronic tension-type headache is amitriptyline or some of the other antidepressants. Antidepressant drugs have analgesic actions, which can provide relief for headache sufferers. Although a patient may not be depressed, these drugs may be beneficial. Selecting an antidepressant is based on the presence of a sleep disturbance. For the patient with chronic tension-type headaches, habituating analgesics must be strictly avoided. Biofeedback techniques can also be helpful in treating tension-type headaches.

Chronic tension-type headache can also be the result of either anxiety or depression. Changes in sleep patterns or insomnia, early morning or late day occurrence of headache, feelings of guilt, weight loss, dizziness, poor concentration, ongoing fatigue and nausea commonly occur. One should seek professional diagnosis for proper treatment if these symptoms exist.

Fioricet is a barbiturate sedative mixed with a non-aspirin pain medication and caffeine. This non-narcotic pain medication and relaxant is often prescribed for tension headaches caused by contractions of the muscles in the neck and shoulder area, and migraine.