What should you know about painful tension headache?

Tension headache commonly feels like a band of pressure across the forehead or a steady ache at the temples, scalp, neck or shoulders. It often affects both sides and is not usually made worse by ordinary movement. Muscle strain, prolonged screen use, poor posture, stress, missed meals, dehydration or disrupted sleep can contribute.

Keep a note of when the pain starts, how long it lasts, where it is felt, and whether nausea, light sensitivity, weakness or visual symptoms occur. A Headache can have several causes, and this pattern helps guide assessment.

Drink water, eat regularly and take a break from close screen work. Gentle neck and shoulder movement, a quiet room, relaxation breathing and a cool or warm pack may ease muscle tension. Check your sitting position and allow regular sleep. If you use pain relief, follow the label and ask a pharmacist if it is suitable with your medicines or health conditions.

Frequent use of painkillers can itself contribute to recurring headaches, so record how often you need them and discuss a repeated pattern with a clinician.

Get urgent help for a sudden, extremely severe headache, new weakness or numbness, confusion, fainting, seizure, stiff neck with fever, loss of vision, or a headache after a significant head injury. Arrange a GP Consultation when headaches are new and persistent, increasingly frequent, different from your usual pattern, or interfering with daily activities.

Does my pattern fit a tension headache? Could my medicines, vision, sleep or blood pressure be contributing? What prevention plan is suitable, and how should I track triggers and pain-relief use?