Description

• Tension-type headaches (TTH) are recurrent episodes of headache lasting minutes to weeks. It is the most common type of headache overall
• The words “tension” and “type” underscore its uncertain pathogenesis and indicate that some kind of mental or muscular tension may play a causative role
• Tension-type headaches are characterized by a dull, non pulsating, band-like pain that is often bilateral. Autonomic symptoms like photophobia, phonophobia, or nausea are usually not present

Classification

• Episodic (ETH)- It can be infrequent or frequent
• Chronic (CTTH)

Types

• Pain- Dull, pressure-like, constricting or giving a sense of fullness in the head. Patients feels like wearing a tight hat or a tight band around the head or bearing a heavy burden on the head
• Physical activity has no influence on headache intensity in majority of the patients
• Pain location is usually bilateral and occipital
• Episodic Nature
• Lasts 30 minutes to couple of days

Associated symptoms

• A tension-type headache is not accompanied by nausea or vomiting
• Mild-to-moderate anorexia
• Photophobia or phonophobia may be present
• Tenderness of the pericranial (head and neck) muscles, particularly with increased frequency of tension-type headache attacks

Investigation

• Primarily a clinical diagnosis
• Physical and neurological examinations
• Palpation of the pericranial muscles to identify tender points and trigger points

Treatments

Pharmacologic

• Simple analgesics and NSAIDs are the mainstays in the acute therapy
• Antidepressants
• Muscle relaxants

Non pharmacologic therapy

• Physical therapy and Psychologic treatment
• Psychologic therapy: Relaxation training and Cognitive- Behavioural Therapy

Ayurvedic Treatment

Internal medicines

• Pathyashadanga Kashaya
• Drakshadi kashaya
• Ashtavarga Kashaya
• Vaiswanara Choorna
• Panchakola Choorna
• Varanadi Gritha
• Manasamitra vataka
• Sirasooladi vajrarasam

Procedures

• Abyanga - Balaswagandhadi taila /Narayana taila /Ksheerabala taila over scalp and neck
• Lepa –Rasnajambeera, Marmagulika - forehead
• Virechana - Gandharva eranda
• Nasya - Varanadiksheera Gritha , Shadbindhu taila
• Ksheeradhooma - Vatahara drugs
• Shirodhara - Dhanwanthara taila, Mahanarayana taila, Ksheerabala taila, Chandanadi taila , Balaswagandhadi taila
• Thala – Ksheerabala + Kachooradi

Department

Salakya - ENT