When the dull pressure of an occasional headache begins, you might chalk it up to work stress, lack of sleep or personal worries. If the ache is mild or moderate, you may consider it no big deal and simply reach for an over-the-counter drug–aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium–instead of calling your health care professional.

Simple tension-type headaches are common, happening to 78 percent of adults, according to the National Headache Foundation. Such aches are dull (not stabbing or pulsating), may contract the muscles in the scalp or neck and generally occur on both sides of the head, without nausea or sensitivity to light and noise.

Yet occasional or episodic headaches may increase in frequency over time. Are you taking headache medication nearly every day, but feeling little relief? Does the aching often start when you wake up or in the evening? Are you having sleep problems?

If that describes you on 15 or more days a month, you have chronic tension-type headache. And you might also be suffering from unrecognized depression.

Although people with chronic tension-type headache often get through their daily activities, studies show they have significantly higher levels of depression, which affects overall functioning and quality of life. That depression might not be displayed as sadness or other classic signs of a depressive disorder, so the problem underlying the headaches may be missed by health care professionals and even patients themselves. What’s more, chronic pain itself can lead to depression.

If you suffer from chronic headache, get help now to end the pain:

Anyone taking headache medication more than two days a week needs to be examined by a medical professional. See your primary care provider or a specialist at a headache clinic (often affiliated with hospitals).

Even if you are not depressed, antidepressants are often prescribed for chronic tension-type headache. These drugs provide better pain relief than standard over-the-counter medications.

Biofeedback has also been shown to be helpful in ending chronic headache.

References
"Categories of Headache." National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org. Accessed 3/27/2006.
"Tension-type Headache." National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org. Accessed 4/3/2006.
Diamond, S. "Tension-type headache." Clinical Cornerstone, 1(6): 33-44, 1999.
Barton-Donovan, K, Blanchard, EB. "Psychosocial aspects of chronic daily headache." Journal of Headache Pain, 6(1):30-39, 2005.
Holroyd, KA, Stensland, M, Lipchik, GL, et al. "Psychosocial correlates and impact of chronic tension-type headaches." Headache, 40(1):3-16, 2000.
Diamond, S. "Depression and Headaches." National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org. Accessed 3/27/2006.
"Consult Your Healthcare Provider If Your Headache…" National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org. Accessed 4/3/2006

Reprinted with permission from the NWHRC. 1-877-986-9472 (toll-free).