To prevent tension headache, attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.
Behavioral risk factors
- Diet
- Micronutrient deficiency (vital substances) – see Prevention with micronutrients.
- Psycho-social situation
- Anxiety
- Conflict
- Stress
- Muscular tension; including daily consumption of chewing gum (1-6 /die).
- Oromandibular dysfunction, which is manifested mainly by bruxism (teeth grinding).
- Malposition of the body
- Disturbances in the perception of pain in the brain
Medication
- Analgesics (painkillers)
- Hormones
- NO donors (drugs that release nitric oxide in a non-enzymatic or enzymatic reaction in vascular smooth muscle).
- Phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE inhibitors; drugs that inhibit enzymes from the phosphodiesterases group).
- Other medications: for more information, see “Drug side effects” under “Headache due to medication.”
