Muscular Contraction and Tension Headaches

What is a muscular contraction headache?
Muscle contraction headache pain is often described as a tight vise-like band around the head. The pain is steady, usually felt on both sides of the head, and can cause the scalp to become sore. It may last for weeks, months, or even years.

What are symptoms of a muscular contraction headache?
Muscle-contraction headaches may be accompanied by:

• nausea
• vomiting
• blurred vision (however, there is no pre-headache syndrome such as with migraine)

Muscle contraction headaches, however, are generally not linked to hormones or foods, and there is no strong hereditary connection.

What are triggers for muscle contraction headaches?
Some healthcare professionals believe that the primary cause of the pain of muscle-contraction headache is sustained muscle tension, while others suggest that restricted blood flow causes or contributes to the pain. Specific suggested triggers may include:

• depression or anxiety in anticipation of a conflict
  
  
• physical postures (such as holding the chin up or down when reading, or holding the telephone between the shoulder and ear)
  
  
• degenerative arthritis of the neck
  
  
• temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD or TMJ)

What is a tension headache?
Tension headache is a form of muscular contraction headache. The name refers to both the stress that triggers the pain, as well as the contraction or tensing of neck, face, and scalp muscles.

Tension headache is severe, but it is temporary with mild to moderate pain that causes pressure to the head or neck.

Facts about tension headaches from the American Council for Headache Education:

• Tension headaches are the most common, affecting approximately 75 percent of all headache sufferers.
  
  
• As many as 90 percent of adults have had tension headaches.
  
  
• Tension headaches are typically a steady ache, rather than a throbbing one, and affect both sides of the head.
  
  
• Some people get tension headaches in response to stressful events or hectic days.
  
  
• Tension headaches may be chronic, occurring frequently or every day.
  
  
• Psychological factors have been overemphasized as causes of tension headaches.