Dichotomy of music in the approach of tension-type headache

Abstract

Introduction
Headache is one of the most frequent diseases of the nervous system. Headache is considered a public health problem, due to its high prevalence - since more than 90% of the population will present this clinical condition throughout their lives according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and for its negative impact on quality of life. In such a subtype of headache, music is seen as an antithesis either for its relief action or not, with findings in both extremes.
Objective
The objective of this paper is to identify the real effects of routine listening to music in patients with tension-type headache, based on reports in the current literature. The present study consists of an integrative literature review on the effects of routine listening to music in patients with tension-type headache.
Methodology
After careful reading of the publications, six articles were not used due to the exclusion criteria. Thus, 14 articles were selected for the final analysis and construction of the bibliographic review on the topic.
Results
After the analysis, in 50% of the studies, the intensity of the headache increased with listening to music, and in 50% of the studies the intensity of the headache with listening to music decreased.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that music is related in an ambivalent way to cases of headache arising from several etiologies. When administered at high frequencies, it can be a triggering factor, presenting a higher incidence in those who listen to it in this way, if compared to those who listen to it in a less intense way. But when used systematically, with frequency and delimited periods - such as the music therapy mechanism - music reveals itself as a beneficial element to reduce the frequency and intensity of headache caused by different diseases.