Tension and Cluster Headaches

Tension headaches can be managed with medications for pain and lifestyle changes. Medication that may be used include analgesics or NSAIDs. Lifestyle changes include improving posture, exercising and stretching, adjusting sleep schedules, and managing stress. You know in nursing school you get headaches because you are leaning over the books studying and hunched over your computer. You probably aren’t getting enough exercise or sleep and are super stressed, so changing these lifestyle concerns can help fix that.

Cluster headaches are managed with medications to treat or prevent them and lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes include avoiding drinking alcohol and smoking, and managing stress. Let’s discuss the different medications that the doctor may prescribe.

Antihistamines may be given to prevent the release of histamine in the body that is thought to cause cluster headaches. Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from contracting smooth muscles which results in dilated arteries to prevent the initial constriction. Ergotamine drugs stimulate serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine receptors causing vasoconstriction to prevent the sudden vasodilation. Anesthetics are sometimes given to control the pain. SSRIs stimulate serotonin receptors causing constriction.

It’s important to educate your patients with headaches on different things they can do to prevent them. They should work on managing their stress, stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol, and exercise. They can monitor for triggers that set off their headaches so that they may be avoided in the future.

The priority nursing concepts for the patient with tension and cluster headaches include intracranial regulation, pharmacology, and patient education.

Alright, now let’s review the key points. Tension headaches consist of tight pain in the head that is caused by stress or contracted muscles in the head and neck. Cluster headaches consist of sharp pain in the head that is thought to be caused by histamine release and/or constriction of the vessels in the brain with sudden dilation after. Treatment for both types of headaches include lifestyle changes such as managing stress and avoiding alcohol and smoking. Medications for tension headaches target pain, whereas medications for cluster headaches target the histamine release, vasoconstriction, or vasodilation to prevent or treat the headache. Our patients should be educated to work on stress management, stop smoking and drinking, monitor triggers, and exercise.