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What Causes Constant Headache?
Question: I came down with the flu and had an ear infection (otitis externa) in November 2014. Both seemed to have cleared up, so I then took a flight to XXXXXXX in December 2014. (my ears usually pop when I travel, this time it didn't). On waking up the next day I had head pressure on the top of my head. This has been going on for 9 months. My doctors keep on telling me it is a Tension Headache. I have never suffered from headaches in the past. Could it be anything else apart from a Tension Headache?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the persistent headache you have been suffering from.
Looking at your description I must say that it is a typical description of tension type headache. As you must already have been told it is the most common primary headache by far, experienced by up to 80% of the population at some time in their lifes.
Whether it could be something else...usually when my patients have no history of headache in the past and the headache doesn't subside after a week I do consider the possibility of conditions like brain tumor, cerebral vein thrombosis, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, a Chiari malformation etc and have a MRI scheduled. Since in your case it has been already 9 months you shouldn't be alarmed as those conditions in the meanwhile would usually manifest other signs, so MRI would probably be normal, but still I think it should be scheduled.
Looking at causes not related to the brain itself, I might mention high blood pressure and sinusitis as the most common ones, but I suppose they've already been checked by your doctors.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the persistent headache you have been suffering from.
Looking at your description I must say that it is a typical description of tension type headache. As you must already have been told it is the most common primary headache by far, experienced by up to 80% of the population at some time in their lifes.
Whether it could be something else...usually when my patients have no history of headache in the past and the headache doesn't subside after a week I do consider the possibility of conditions like brain tumor, cerebral vein thrombosis, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, a Chiari malformation etc and have a MRI scheduled. Since in your case it has been already 9 months you shouldn't be alarmed as those conditions in the meanwhile would usually manifest other signs, so MRI would probably be normal, but still I think it should be scheduled.
Looking at causes not related to the brain itself, I might mention high blood pressure and sinusitis as the most common ones, but I suppose they've already been checked by your doctors.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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