BENGALURU: Jennifer (name changed) once used to party late night. During her exams, her sleep cycle got disturbed, and she found she had a headache.
She thought it would ebb away in 15 minutes or a few hours but it persisted for weeks. Panic-stricken, her family took her to a doctor, and it was diagnosed as a ‘tension headache’. She was prescribed symptomatic medication and advised lifestyle changes, which helped her do better in exams later on.
When a tension headache strikes, you might experience a constant, dull ache on both sides of the head.
Neck muscles could tighten, and a feeling of pressure behind the eyes is also common. Tenderness of the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles, tightness or pressure across your forehead or on the temples and back of your head are other symptoms. Neglecting these could lead to a migraine affecting job productivity and overall quality of life, say health experts.
This is the most common type of headache, says Dr G R K Sarma, Professor of Neurology, St John’s Medical College and Hospital. “Every month, at least 30 patients with headaches come to the hospital. Seven of 10 headache cases are due to tension.”
If not treated properly, they can lead to side effects of regular medication, he adds. “In the worst cases, the patient may slip into depression because of the pain.”
Dr Suryanarayana S, consultant, Neurology, BGS Global Hospitals, says stress is the most common trigger.
Doctors say episodic headaches of 15 to 30 minutes might occur several times, and later run into a week or even months, becoming chronic.
Dr Sarma says you should seek medical help when your headache does not come down even after taking medication.
“We check if the tension headache disrupts normal life and if you take medication more than twice a week,” he says.
Immediate medical advice is required for headaches that strike suddenly, accompanied by a stiff neck, fever, nausea, vomiting and confusion, he counsels.
“Also if you have had an accident, especially if it involved a blow to the head, and is accompanied by weakness, numbness, slurred speech or confusion, these may need further investigation.”
Don’t take headaches lightly, he sums up.
Causes
Who are at risk?
How to Beat It?
Dos and Don’ts