Diagnosis of tension headaches
Tension headache is diagnosed to the exclusion of the other types of headache (cluster headache, migraine headache, drug-induced headache) In addition, in rare cases, depending on the patient’s symptoms (neurological abnormalities? ), clarification of brain tumors and meningitis is urgently required. The individual types of headache can be distinguished by their intensity, duration, localisation and accompanying symptoms.
In the case of tension headache, the patient often reports a dull and pressing or, in rare cases, a pulling pain.At the beginning, this occurs mainly in the area of the temples and the neck, before it spreads over the whole head. The intensity of the pain is seldom so strong that the person affected is restricted in any way at work. The duration varies greatly from patient to patient and ranges from one hour to one week.
The pain typically occurs on both sides. There is no accompanying nausea or vomiting. Sensitivity to light and noise may occur in rare cases, but cannot occur simultaneously. A headache diary is also helpful in finding the cause and for diagnosis. Over a certain period of time, it documents, among other things, under which circumstances the headache occurs and how severe it is.
Associated symptoms of tension headaches
In the context of the occurrence of tension headaches, only in rare cases does an accompanying symptomatology occur. Instead, migraine headaches in particular are characterized by typical symptoms that are crucial to the diagnosis. Patients with tension headaches often report that the pain feels as if one is wearing a hat that is clearly too tight.
This feeling of pressure is most pronounced in the forehead and neck area. In rare cases, involvement of the eyes may also occur. Similar to headaches, the patient feels a feeling of pressure in the area of the eyes.
In addition, a slight sensitivity to light or noise is possible. In contrast to migraine headaches, however, this cannot occur simultaneously. The accompanying symptoms may be more pronounced, especially in chronic tension headaches.
In some cases, depression, sleep or anxiety disorders are also possible. The untreated form of chronic tension headaches can also be misused. In rare cases, the headaches can also spread to the area around the eyes.
The patient feels a feeling of pressure in the area of the eyes or the orbit without being able to localize it exactly. Visual disturbances as well as lightning and luminous phenomena do not usually occur in tension headaches. Conversely, complaints in the area of the eye can also lead to headaches. For example, in the case of narrow-angle glaucoma, the intraocular pressure can increase significantly, which irritates pain receptors and causes headaches.
