There is a fairly reasonable chance that someone you know has had some type of headache today, only because there are so many different kinds of headaches around. These forms of headache may be the result of dehydration, missed meals, migraines or other kinds of headache like a tension headache or even a chronic tension headache.
A tension headache can feel like a tight elastic band around your head, however, the pain from tension headaches goes away after a short while. But imagine having to suffer from a tension headache every day – for weeks. This type of tension headache is classified as a chronic tension headache because the symptoms may be experienced at least 15 days a month for a period of several months.
With the case of chronic tension headaches, the symptoms of the headaches are fairly similar to those of tension headaches, except that the pain never actually seems to go away. People who have had chronic tension headaches, say that the pain is as if they were wearing a pressure band around their heads. Other people may describe severe chronic tension headache pain as a hooded cape that hangs down onto their shoulders.
In the case of both tension headaches and chronic tension headaches, the pain can be felt either in the forehead region, in the sides of the head and sometimes even at the back of the head. At its usual power the chronic tension headache is a dull, aching pain, although sometimes the pain is like a tourniquet. Generally the pain is mild to moderately intense.
The severity of the pain varies with the general physical condition of the individual concerned and it also varies with the various types headaches. Many people begin to experience chronic tension headaches as soon as they wake up in the morning, although others have reported that their chronic tension headaches start in the early hours of the day.
Normal tension headaches are more common than chronic tension headaches, however twice as many women as men suffer from chronic tension headaches. The duration and the severity of the pain is about the same as the normal variety in this sort of headache, however the pain from the chronic tension headache is almost a daily occurrence and is also continuous.
Individuals who suffer from chronic tension headaches are thought to be more prone to anxiety and depression than non-sufferers of chronic tension headaches. It is also known that chronic tension headaches are more common during or after heightened periods of stress and anxiety. Anyone who has mood disorders like depression or anxiety ought to have these conditions treated before getting their chronic tension headache seen to.
People suffering from chronic tension headaches can lead pretty normal and fulfilling lives with the proper medication and treatment. In time, they may come to understand what triggers their headaches and how avoiding these triggers can prevent the onset of another bout of chronic tension headaches.
