Research Article

Identifying Chinese Medicine Patterns of Tension-Type Headache and Understanding Its Subgroups

Table 12

What aggravates your headache? (Please tick (✓) one box for each item).

Increased tensionDon’t knowNeverSeldomSometimesOftenAlmost always

Overwork (e.g., prolonged working hours, long periods of studying/typing)
When tired
Mental strain (e.g., overthinking or other concentration)
Eyestrain (e.g., reading, computer, or TV)
Muscular strain (muscle tightness)
Physical labour
Lack of sleep
Poor posture in sitting, standing or sleeping

Diet
Alcohol
Coffee
Dehydration
Hunger/being hungry
Chocolate
Cigarette smoking
Soft drink/sodas
Tea
Cheese
Dairy foods (e.g., milk, ice cream, etc.)
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Sugar/too much sugar
Spicy food
Overconsumption of oily food
Irregular diet (e.g., eating on the run, skip meals)

Weather
Change of weather
Change in temperature
Exposure to bright lights or sunshine
Hot weather
Cold weather
Windy days
Damp weather/humid weather
Rainy days

Stress and emotional changes
Stress
Nervousness
Anger or irritability
Anxiety (excessive worry)
Depression (feeling unhappy or depressed)
Tension or conflict-related (e.g., from financial constraints, family, relationship, and/or work)

Other factors
Sneezing
Teeth grinding
Other (please specify)