Symptoms of a tension headache

As the pressure of life increases, everyone will face different problems in different situations. But the common feature is that everyone will be nervous when dealing with unfamiliar things for the first time. For example, students taking the college entrance examination, meeting parents for the first time when dating, or interviewing for a job will all be nervous. Once nervousness arises, the emotion will be affected and the body will be affected, resulting in headaches.

Speaking of headaches, I believe many of my friends have had similar experiences in their lives. Many friends have also suffered headaches due to tension. So here we will introduce the symptoms of tension headaches and the correct and effective ways to deal with tension headaches.

Tension headaches are also called muscle contraction headaches. A feeling of tightness, pressure, or dull pain in the head, more typically with a band-like sensation. As a transient disorder, tension headaches are often related to stress in daily life, but if they persist, they may be one of the characteristic symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Tension headaches are caused by prolonged contraction of the muscles in the head and neck. This contraction can be caused by:

① As a result of anxiety or depression accompanied by mental stress;

② As a secondary symptom of headache or pain in other parts of the body due to other reasons;

③Caused by poor posture of the head, neck and shoulder girdle.

Current medical treatments for tension headaches include:

1. Medication

Since the pathogenesis of tension-type headaches is unclear, mild non-narcotic analgesics are often used as medications. To relieve symptoms, mainly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other drugs include appropriate amounts of muscle relaxants and mild sedatives, and antidepressants are also often used depending on the condition. It is usually given orally and used for a short period of time to avoid drug toxicity and side effects.

(1) Ketoprofen is a NSAID that is used for tension-type headaches as well as muscle and joint pain. The analgesia is temporary and its function is to inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins, increase intracellular cAMP, and improve platelet function. The toxic and side effects include stomach discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, palpitations, sweating, drowsiness and skin itching.

(2)Naproxen belongs to the NSAID class. It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the synthesis of dinoprost (prostaglandin). The side effects are nausea, stomach upset, fatigue, dizziness, weakness and drowsiness. It is forbidden to use in pregnant and lactating women.

2. Physical therapy

(1) Train the correct neck and head posture when sitting, standing, sleeping and working.

(2) Practice improving head position and prone position exercises at home to strengthen the muscles at the back of the neck, and place an ice pack on the back of the neck.

Through understanding and in-depth study of the above content, everyone should have a preliminary understanding of the symptoms and treatments of tension headaches. If friends encounter headaches caused by tension in their lives in the future, they might as well pay attention. First of all, don't panic, and then make a preliminary diagnosis based on the knowledge you know. If it doesn't work, go to the hospital for examination and treatment in time. The most important thing is to seek medical treatment as soon as possible, so as to minimize the harm of the disease to us.