Headache Caused by Tension

Tension headache may feel like a band, weight or gentle squeezing around both sides of the head. The pain can involve the forehead, temples, back of the head or upper neck, and the scalp or shoulder muscles may feel sensitive. It is often linked with long periods of concentration, stress, missed rest, eye strain, jaw clenching or an uncomfortable posture. Nausea is less typical than with migraine, although light or noise may still feel unpleasant. Headache patterns overlap, and the sensation alone cannot identify the cause.

Pause demanding screen or close-up work and let your eyes rest. Lower your shoulders, unclench your jaw, and make slow, comfortable neck movements. A warm shower or compress may soothe tight areas. Eat regular meals, drink fluids and keep sleep and wake times steady when possible. Consider a quiet, dim environment if stimulation makes the pain harder to tolerate. A pharmacist can help you choose a suitable non-prescription medicine and explain how your other medicines or health conditions affect that choice. Frequent reliance on pain medicine can itself contribute to recurring headaches, so discuss a repeated pattern with a clinician.

Get urgent help for a sudden extreme headache, or pain with new weakness, numbness, confusion, fainting, seizure, speech difficulty, vision loss, fever and stiff neck, or repeated vomiting. Seek an appointment when headaches are new and persistent, increasingly frequent, different from your usual pattern, or interfering with work, sleep or daily activities. Assessment is also advisable after a head injury or when self-care is not helping.

Does my symptom pattern fit tension headache or another type of headache? Which triggers should I track? How often is it appropriate to use a pain reliever? Could jaw tension, vision, sleep or another medicine be involved?