Tension headaches are an extremely common condition across the U.S., with a reported 3 million cases occurring each year.1 Tension headaches are often referred to as “stress headaches” and are characterized by mild to moderate band-like pain around the forehead or at the back of the head and neck. Tension headaches can be episodic, occurring less than 15 times per month, or chronic, lasting for much more prolonged periods of time.2
While there is no single cause of tension headaches, there are numerous factors that my contribute to the development of a tension headache, including:
- Poor posture
- Stress, either emotional or mental
- Lack of proper rest
People that suffer from tension headaches may notice that their headaches come on later in the day, and that they often feel tired and irritable. There may be associated muscle aches, sensitivity to light and noise, and fatigue. Unlike migraines, however, tension headaches are typically not accompanied by nausea or vision disturbances.
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A typical treatment regimen for tension headaches includes medications designed to relieve the pain and relax the muscles. In more chronic or severe cases, anti-depressants and anti-seizure medications may be prescribed. Over time, pain-relievers and other medications may lose their effectiveness.2 More importantly, they do not address the underlying cause of why these tension headaches reoccur.
In Schaumburg, headache specialist Dr. Jeremy Barone has been addressing the underlying cause of people’s headaches at his upper cervical chiropractic clinic. Dr. Barone focuses his care on aligning the top two vertebra of the spine. When these two bones are misaligned, it creates abnormal tension on muscles as well as a disturbance in nervous system function. Both of these elements can be contributory factors in the development of tension and other headache types. Dr. Barone makes specific and gentle adjustments to those vertebrae so normal function can be restored and some lasting relief can be achieved.
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- Mayo Clinic. Tension Headaches. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tension-headache/basics/definition/con-20014295 (accessed 11 June 2015).
- WebMD. Tension Headaches. http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/tension-headaches (accessed 11 June 2015).