Tension Headache: The Most Common Headache

If you are a women in your thirties, you are definitely a prime candidate for experiencing tension headaches, the most common form of headache.

Quick Facts about Tension Headaches

- Tension headaches are the most common type of headache.

- Women are more prone (90%) to experiencing tension headaches than men (70%).

- Tension headaches are very common in women who are between 30 and 39 years old.

- Tension headaches typically appear in the morning and usually get worse as the day goes on.

- People who experience tension headaches are often describe feeling as if they have "a tight band around the head."

- Tension headaches can cause pain at the bottom of the skull and back of the neck.

Episodic Tension Headaches

The most common tension headache that most people suffer from is known as an episodic tension headache. An episodic tension headache is typically short, lasting from a few minutes to a few hours. Episodic tension headaches typically occur no more than 15 days in any given month. It has been reported that more than 60% of episodic tension headache sufferers experience tenderness in the scalp and neck muscles.

Chronic Tension Headaches

When episodic headaches increase in frequency, they become chronic, occurring on more than 15 days per month for a minimum of three consecutive months. While chronic tension headaches last for about the same length of time as episodic tension headaches, the pain can unfortunately be felt by sufferers on a daily basis. Though not as common as episodic tension headaches, twice as many women suffer from chronic tension headaches than men.

Depression and Tension Headaches

While people who suffer from chronic tension headaches are more likely to be anxious or depressed than most, it can be also be viewed as a chicken-and-egg situation -- does the depression cause the headache or does the headache cause the depression? It is recommended that people who suffer from chronic tension headaches also seek some form of treatment for depression, as the treatment can help in alleviating the headaches.

Causes of Tension Headache

- Stress
- Skipping meals
- Bad posture
- Lack of exercise
- Anxiety and depression
- Hormonal changes in women
- Taking too many painkillers for headaches
- Teeth grinding during sleep

Treating Tension Headache

Treatment for tension headaches can be as simple as eating something if you have skipped a meal. Sometimes, getting yourself out of a stressful situation can treat a tension headache. Common over-the-counter medications like aspirin, Advil or Tylenol will also quickly get rid of a tension headache; if it doesn't, you can pay your doctor a visit and ask for a stronger prescription. It is advisable, though, that you limit your use of painkillers, as painkillers tend to lose their effectiveness when used for too long a period of time. Worse, you will start getting rebound headaches if you take too many painkillers.

Alternative Remedies

Acupuncture has been known to relieve tension headaches; it's recommended to visit the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture web site to locate a doctor who practices acupuncture in your area.

Aromatherapy can also help treat tension headaches; the easiest to use is probably lavender oil, as you can apply it directly onto your skin's various pulse points. It is also worth to try out peppermint or ginger, which are both good; find out which one works best for you.

For more help on the prevention, treatment and remedies for migraines please see the Complete Guide To Migraine Headaches.

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