Neuro: Tension Headaches: Free MSRA Podcast

⚕️ FREE MSRA PODCAST – Tension Headache🎧 A clear, high-yield breakdown of this common,pressure-like primary headache – perfect for exam prep and real-life clinicalscenarios. 🧠 Key Learning Points📌 Definition​ The most commonprimary headache, characterised by a dull, bilateral, pressure-like sensationaround the head or neck.​ Typically notassociated with nausea, vomiting, or focal neurological symptoms.📌 Causes & Risk Factors​Stress and anxiety 😰​ Poorposture 🪑​Fatigue and sleep disturbances 😴​Bruxism (teeth grinding) 😬​Female gender 🚺​ Family history​Excessive screen time or neck strain 💻🧠 Mnemonic: “SLEEP” – Stress, Lifestyle, Emotion,Ergonomics, Posture📌 Pathophysiology​ Multifactorial –involves increased pericranial muscle tension.​Central sensitisation may play a role 🧠​ Potentialserotonin imbalance📌 Symptoms​Bilateral dull ache or pressure 🔁​ Feels like a tightband around the head​ No photophobia,phonophobia or nausea (or only mild)​ May have scalp orneck tenderness🧠 Mnemonic: “BAND” – Bilateral, Aching,Non-throbbing, Dull📌 Differential Diagnosis​ Migraine​ Cluster headache​ Cervicogenicheadache​ Sinus headache​Raised ICP or red-flag secondary causes ⚠️📌 Diagnosis​ Clinical diagnosisbased on history​ No imaging orbloods unless red flags present​ Red flags:thunderclap onset, focal neurology, altered consciousness, trauma, fever, orimmunosuppression📌 Management​ 🧘 Lifestyle: stress reduction, posture correction, hydration, regularsleep​ 💊 Medication: Paracetamol or NSAIDs for acute episodes​ 🧠 Chronic: low-dose amitriptyline may be considered​ 🧠 CBT, mindfulness, headache diary​ ❌Avoid codeine or routine opioid use – risk of medication-overuse headaches📌 Complications​ Medication overuseheadaches (rebound)​Chronic tension-type headache 😖​ Reduced quality oflife if unmanaged📌 Prognosis​Episodic types resolve easily with self-care 🟢​Chronic types may impair functioning and require longer-term management 🟠​ Avoid analgesicoveruse to prevent rebound headaches 📎 More MSRA Resources for Tension Headache📝 Revision Notes: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/tension-headache-revision-notes/🧠 Flashcards: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/tension-headache-flashcards/💬 Accordion Q&A Notes: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/tension-headache-accordion-qa-notes/🚀 Rapid Quiz: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/tension-headache-rapid-quiz/🎓 Full Course: https://www.passthemsra.com/courses/neurology-for-the-msra/ Hashtags#MSRA #MSRARevision#MSRATextbook #MSRAQuiz #MSRAQuestionBank #MSRAFlashcards #MSRAQANotes#MSRAAccordions #MultiSpecialityRecruitmentAssessment #MSRAOnlineRevision#MSRARevisionWebsite #TensionHeadache #Neurology