Tension-like headache: what to know

People may describe pressure across the forehead, temples or back of the head, sometimes with tenderness in the scalp, jaw, neck or shoulders. It may follow long periods of concentration, screen use, poor sleep, stress, missed meals or dehydration. Symptoms from allergic rhinitis, a cold, chronic sinus problems or COVID-19 can also include headache, usually with other clues such as congestion, discharge, cough, sore throat or fever. Dengue fever and heat exhaustion need attention when headache occurs with a broader illness picture.

Keep a simple record of the start time, location, triggers, severity, associated symptoms and medicines used. That pattern is more useful than the label alone.

Pause close work, relax the jaw and shoulders, and move gently. Rest somewhere calm, drink fluids, eat if you have missed a meal, and use warmth for tight neck muscles. Keep a regular sleep routine and adjust your screen or chair so your head is not held forward. Use pain medicine according to its label; repeated use should be discussed with a clinician or pharmacist.

Seek urgent care for a sudden severe headache, new weakness or numbness, difficulty speaking, confusion, fainting, seizure, vision loss, persistent vomiting, or fever with a stiff neck. Seek prompt advice if headache follows a head injury, keeps worsening, differs from your usual pattern, or comes with high fever, rash, breathing difficulty or marked dehydration. A GP can assess recurring headaches and decide whether further tests are appropriate.

Ask which features support a tension-type pattern, what triggers you should change, how often pain medicine is reasonable for you, and which symptoms should lead to urgent review. Bring your symptom record.