Headaches: Tension - Prognosis

(Page 2)

Poor Posture and Work Conditions. Working or sleeping in an awkward position can contribute to posture problems (especially those that affect muscles in neck and shoulders) that trigger headaches. Eyestrain caused by overwork can also play a role.

Fatigue. Lack of sleep and tiredness from overwork are also headache triggers.

Foods and Beverages. Rapid consumption of ice cream or other very cold foods or beverages is the most common trigger of sudden headache pain, which may be prevented by warming the food or drink for a few seconds in the front of the mouth before swallowing. (However, ice cream headaches are not tension headaches.) Not eating on time is also a trigger for headache.

---

---

Physical Activity. Intense physical exertion (including athletics or sexual activity) as well as lack of physical activity can trigger headaches. However, tension-type headache pain is not worsened by routine physical activity.

Dental Problems. Jaw clenching or teeth grinding, especially during sleep, are signs of temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ, also known as TMD). TMJ pain can occur in the ear, cheek, temples, neck, or shoulders. This condition often coexists with chronic tension headache. Some patients with TMJ may see improvement in tension-type headaches from procedures or exercise therapies that specifically address the dental condition.

Click the icon to see an image of temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Physical Trauma. Whiplash or head or neck injury can lead to headaches.

Hormonal Changes. Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during the menstrual cycle or perimenopause, can affect headache occurrence.

Causes of Secondary Headaches

About 90% of people seeking help for headaches have a primary headache. The rest are secondary headaches, caused by an underlying disorder that produces headache as a symptom. More than 300 conditions can cause headaches. These can range from sinus conditions to brain tumor. While fear of brain tumor is common among people with headaches, headache is almost never the first or only sign of a tumor. Changes in personality and mental functioning, vomiting, seizures, and other symptoms are more likely to appear first.

Review Date: 11/15/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).