Q With treatment, does a tension-type headache go away completely, or do I have to manage it for life?
A About half of episodic tension-type headaches improve with treatment, while the rest may progress to chronic. By managing triggers and continuing treatment, you can greatly reduce the frequency of attacks.
Detailed Answer
For about half of tension-type headache patients, the headaches greatly diminish or disappear with appropriate treatment and lifestyle management. However, if a stressful environment persists or sleep problems go unresolved, it can worsen into chronic tension-type headache or medication-overuse headache. Correcting lifestyle habits, managing stress, and exercising regularly all improve the prognosis.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Rather than briefly removing pain, Dongjedang aims to change the foundation for recurrence through three steps that clear the head: clearing the upper body, detoxification, and circulation. In particular, those with weak digestion who produce insufficient qi and blood must also have their digestive function supported to prevent recurrence, so we raise the long-term prognosis through steady management over 3-6 months.
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