Although this condition affects both men and women, women are more prone to tension headaches than men. Although the severity of the pain varies from mild to moderate, interrogation tension always gives a distinct feeling of pressure or increasing pressure in the forehead and back of the head.

Health officials don't yet know the exact cause of these headaches, but excessive contractions of the head and neck muscles may play a role.




The pain associated with a tension headache usually originates in the back of the head or above the eyebrows and progresses gradually to cover the entire head and neck.

Although tension headaches can cause significant pain, most individuals are able to carry out their daily activities when they occur. Migraine causes debilitating pain.


Types of tension headaches


Tension headaches fall into the following categories:

Frequent transient tension headaches : May occur less than 30 times in 12 years and each episode lasts from 12 minutes to 30 weeks.

Rare transient tension headaches: May occur more frequently, about 1-14 times per month, and last from 30 minutes to a week.


Chronic tension headaches:


They can occur up to 15 times a month and last for several hours.

Some headaches can be caused by excessive tension, but they are rarely made worse by physical activity. Also, you may also encounter such a question after a head injury.


Other factors that can trigger a tension headache include:

  • vision problems
  • eye strain
  • excessive caffeine intake
  • Problem teeth grinding or jaw
  • sinus infection

Signs and Symptoms of Tension Headache


One of the characteristic symptoms of a tension headache is a feeling of a band tightening around the head, also known as a "tight feeling of the belt" or "a feeling of being tied into a fist."


Your skull will feel heavy and compressed due to blockage in your head and neck muscles.

Stress is often caused by emotional factors and causes dull pain that radiates from the back of the head or above the eyebrows to the entire skull.

The pain can be mild or moderate, and the duration depends on the type of tension headache. Characteristic pain may be accompanied by:

  • sleep in trouble
  • sleep disorders
  • unable to concentrate
  • Increased sensitivity to loud sounds and light
  • Tension headaches caused by increased emotional stress can be exacerbated by adding stress and anxiety as well.

Tension Headache Diagnosis


There are still no diagnostic tests to determine if a headache is due to tension. After analyzing your symptoms, your doctor will review you based on your medical and family history.

Because tension-type headaches can be similar to those of secondary headaches, they can be misdiagnosed if the symptoms, such as the severity and duration of the headache, are not accurately communicated.

Secondary headaches can be caused by substance abuse or structural differences in the brain.

A CT scan or MRI of the head may be ordered if the headache is accompanied by some unusual symptoms to rule out the underlying problem.




Treatment of tension headaches


Medical treatment for tension headaches depends on the symptoms, frequency and duration, and underlying factors.

Rare episodes of tension headaches can be treated individually with pain relievers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or a combination of pain relievers and codeine.

However, taking the combination medication on a regular basis is not recommended as it can cause rebound headaches and side effects to the kidneys, liver and other parts of the body. Abuse of drugs can lead to addiction and can affect overall health. Therefore, it is better to consult with your doctor about the appropriate dosage rather than self-medication.

Tricyclic antidepressants are the standard drug of choice to treat chronic tension-type headache.

Individuals suffering from chronic or recurrent tension headaches may be prescribed amitriptyline for pain relief and are encouraged to adopt a preventive strategy to stop the next headache.