A look into the causes and treatment of tension headache

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The common headache has a name, and it is called tension headache. It is typically described as mild to moderate pain behind the eyes, head, and neck and is often compared to a tight headband. Dr. Curtis Cripe explains more in this article about its possible causes, symptoms, and treatment.

A major factor that often comes out as a likely cause of tension headaches is muscle contractions in the head and neck regions. Other possible causes can either be stress or hectic activities. Even staring at a computer screen for a long time or driving for an extended period can cause tension headache, points out Dr. Curtis Cripe.

The symptoms are usually dull, aching pain. There is pressure around the head, like a tight band, and marked tenderness in the scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles. Moreover, Dr. Curtis Cripe reveals that tension headache has two categories. First is "episodic tension headache," which occurs for less than 15 days a month for three months. The second is "chronic tension headache," which occurs for 15 or more days in a month for three months.

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Dr. Curtis Cripe suggests the following in treating tension headache: sleep and wake at the same time each day, exercise for 30 minutes daily, skip no meals, especially breakfast, rest in a quiet and, if possible, dark room, manage stress with relaxation exercises, and drink medicines as per the doctor's advice. Lastly, avoid things that may trigger tension headache, like certain foods, alcohol, lack of sleep, and so much more.

Curtis Cripe, Ph.D., is the director of research and development at the NTL Group, which uses neuroengineering technology that repairs brain dysfunction to treat addiction, head injury (TBI), depression, anxiety, memory disorders, and neurodevelopmental delays in children with learning disorders. For more updates, visit this blog.

How the experts diagnose and treat a head injury

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As the head of R & D at the NTL Group, Dr. Curtis Cripe is familiar with all sorts of research on head injury, especially related to neurological disorders. This blog explains how the experts diagnose and treat head injuries.

Head injury is viewed as a very broad circumstance. There are many considerations when determining the extent of damage to the brain that a head injury can cause. It can depend on the point of impact, the intensity of the trauma, or even the victim's underlying conditions at the time of the trauma.

The head is such a critical part of the body that whenever medical professionals deal with head trauma, they silently assume the worst, in the interest of not taking anything for granted. External bleeding and damage, unconsciousness, and irregular behavior changes are enough to qualify any case as serious.

A victim needs to be transported immediately to a medical facility that can deal with the head trauma and examination and other testing methods performed as soon as possible. Today's best technologies come in the form of imaging, which allows the experts to identify any internal damage if there is any.

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With imaging, the doctors can make a better determination as to the degree of damage the patient has. This is then followed by blood tests to check for the presence of chemical markers that may point to other conditions, along with further brain evaluation. This is how medical experts leave nothing to chance.

When the patient is done with sufficient testing, this is the only time that the doctors can come up with a full diagnosis and a recommendation for treatment.

Curtis Cripe, Ph.D., has built on a specialization that covers a number of disciplines, which include bioengineering, addiction recovery, psychophysiology, behavioral medicine, brain injury, and child neurodevelopment. He is the director of research and development at the NTL Group. Click page for more updates.