COMMON FORMS OF HEADACHES: TENSION HEADACHE

Almost all of us have experienced the agony of at least one major headache in our lives, whether it be of the mild, throbbing variety or the severe, pounding ache that makes a person nauseated or dizzy. In fact, over 80 percent of women and 65 percent of men experience headaches on a regular basis. Headaches may result from dilated blood vessels within the brain, underlying organic problems, or excessive stress and anxiety.

Tension headaches, also referred to as muscular contraction headaches, are generally caused by muscle contractions or tension in the neck or head. This tension may be caused by actual strain placed on neck or head muscles due to overuse, static positions held for long periods of time, or tension triggered by stress. Recent research indicates that tension headaches may be a product of a more "generic mechanism" in which chemicals deep inside the brain may cause the muscular tension, pain, and suffering often associated with an attack. Triggers for this chemical assault may be red wine, lack of sleep, fasting, menstruation, or other factors, and the same symptoms (sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and/or throbbing pain) may be characteristic of different types of headaches. Symptoms may vary in intensity and duration. Relaxation, hot water treatment, and massage have surfaced as the new holistic treatments, while aspirin, Tylenol, Aleve, and Advil are the old standby forms of pain relief. Although such painkillers may bring temporary relief of symptoms, it is believed that, over time, the drugs may dull the brain's own pain-killing weapons and result in more headaches rather than fewer.