OTC Painkiller Pentalgin for Tension-Type Headache (TTH)
22 May 2017
Tension-Type Headache (TTH)
One of the most common forms of pain in the head - tension-type headache (TTH). It is caused by increasing the tone of the frontal, temporal, and occipital muscles of other, usually in response to emotional stress or prolonged and uncomfortable body position is 50-70% of all headaches. This origin explains the pain and the fact that this disease is more typical for young able-bodied people between the ages of 25-35 years. HDN usually appears suddenly, you may be surprised at work or household chores during the occupation. Therefore, it is important to always have on hand a drug that helps to alleviate or remove the pain.
Types of tension-type headache
Episodic. Painful sensations arise rarely, a person suffers from no more than 15 days away in a month or 180 days per year. The intensity of pain is usually low.
Chronic. Such headaches are concerned regularly (more than 15 days per month or 180 days per year). Its intensity is usually quite high, which may eventually lead to the emergence of anxiety and depressive disorders.
Symptoms of Tension-Type Headache (TTH)
Pain syndrome. Subjective feelings of people suffering from tension-type headache may be different, but they all have common characteristics. The most striking manifestation of tension-type headache - a bilateral compression, squeezing pain in the head. You can often hear such comparisons, "pulled together as a hoop", "squeezed his head like a vice." Significantly, the pain practically no pulsating and not accompanied by nausea and vomiting, as distinct from migraine. The pain may be aggravated by noise, bright lights, touch-to-head, but often do not exercise influence on its intensity. attack duration tension headaches can range from half an hour to 6-7 days.
The general deterioration of health. Typically, tension headache is accompanied by weakness and fatigue, irritability and nervousness, fatigue. Many complain of poor concentration, appetite deterioration.
Upon detection of these symptoms should immediately consult a doctor who will conduct the necessary tests to determine the exact diagnosis, will give specific recommendations on the admission of drugs and lifestyle changes for pain relief, and for the prevention of recurrent attacks.
The reasons for tension headaches
Tension-type headache is connected with a voltage in the muscles of the head and neck. It may occur for the following reasons:
Psycho-emotional stress. HDN can provoke acute or chronic stress, as well as such disorders mental and emotional state, depression, anxiety, prolonged anxiety caused by difficult life circumstances, the loss of loved ones and other traumatic factors. Remember that anxiety and depressive disorders can occur in a hidden form. In other words, a person can deny the existence of his depression or anxiety. Therefore, it is important to timely access to a specialist - a doctor will be able to accurately assess the state not only by questioning, but also through special questionnaires and scales to assess mental and emotional state.
Muscle stress. It is caused by prolonged static muscle tension when anti-physiological postures, or within overvoltage - mainly muscles of the scalp, neck, shoulder girdle, and the eye muscles. TTH often occurs in people with incorrect posture, as well as those who spends much time in a sitting position (for example, office workers, drivers, etc.).
Treatment for tension headaches
Completely get rid of tension headaches is not easy, you need to make serious efforts: First, change your perception of stress and make your life more active.
Drug therapy. Depending on the frequency and severity of headaches, your doctor may recommend the use of not only the pain medication, but also means, relieves muscle tension that have anxiolytic and / or antidepressant effect. For relief of pain in headaches usually prescribed voltage "simple" analgesics: paracetamol and / or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The combined analgesic drug Pentalgin indicated for relief of pain in headaches, including tension headaches when. It consists of five well-studied active ingredients:
paracetamol - a central analgesic that changes the perception of pain in the brain and is involved in the work of the so-called antinociceptive system, helps eliminate pain;
naproxen - NSAIDs promotes reduction of inflammation, swelling and pain in the focus of inflammation or damage;
Drotaverinum - antispasmodic, relieves spasms and pain caused by them;
pheniramine and caffeine - substances enhancing the analgesic effect of analgesics, reducing their doses (over monotherapy), and thus reduce the risk of dose-dependent side effects. Furthermore, pheniramine has a slight sedative effect.
With this composition, Pentalgin provides exposure to several mechanisms of pain. Important features Pentalgin include:
rapid onset of analgesic action of paracetamol (due to the rapid achievement of its maximum concentration in the blood);
lasting analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of naproxen (due to the long elimination from the body).
Correction lifestyle. It is important to monitor the sleep mode: you must sleep at least 6-8 hours a day. You should also pay attention to diet. It is desirable to exclude from coffee, alcohol and fatty foods. If you work at a computer or standing for a long time (for example, conveyor or the machine), be sure to take regular breaks and rest. At the same time, try to lead an active life. Many sports helps to strengthen the muscles, making them more resistant to stress. Walking in the fresh air, massage, swimming, yoga and other relaxation techniques help to relieve psycho-emotional and muscular tension and thus reduce the risk of attacks.