Headaches can be frustrating -- they can cause missed work days, lost productivity, physical suffering and even income loss. If you’re suffering from painful headaches, you’re not alone. In fact, more than 90% of the population has had a headache at some time or another in the past year.
With headaches, it can be hard to determine if you are suffering from one caused by tension, or a full-blown migraine. The following are some common symptoms of tension headaches:
- Pain that is bilateral in nature
- Pressing, tightening sensation
- Mild to moderate pain
- Not aggravated by physical activity
- No nausea or vomiting during the headache
- Tend to last about 30 minutes
So, how do tension headaches come about? During a tension headache, the temple (or Temporalis) muscle is the inflamed muscle that hurts. This muscle can become inflamed from a variety of sources including, but not limited to, oral parafunctional behaviors, overuse of the chewing muscles (i.e., chewing gum), and other factors such as, bacteria, viruses, fungal pathogens, or chemical sensitivities that produce inflammation in the head region.
Who is most prone to tension headaches? The greatest majority of individuals who suffer from these headaches are women 20-50 years old, women with children, and both men and women who stare at computer screens at work for long periods of time.
Tension Headache Treatment from Raleigh Facial Pain Center
Tension headaches can almost be classified as an epidemic, because they affect so many people. When not properly diagnosed, tension headaches can cause patients to become dependent on pain medication, suffer for years, or even lose a job by missing too many days of work. No one should have to live in constant pain, so contact the only university-trained facial pain professional in Raleigh for the tension headache treatment and pain management you deserve.
If you are ready to start living a more pain-free, happier life free of tension headaches, contact the board-certified orofacial pain specialist at Raleigh Facial Pain Center.
