What should you know about tension vascular headache?

This wording is not a precise diagnosis by itself. Headache can feel tight, heavy, throbbing or pressure-like, and the pattern may be influenced by sleep loss, stress, dehydration, heat, illness, nasal congestion or prolonged visual effort. Allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, a common cold and COVID-19 can all occur with headache, while dehydration and heat exhaustion may also produce head discomfort. Headache alone cannot identify which condition is present; the timing, accompanying symptoms and examination matter.

Pause strenuous activity, move somewhere cool and quiet, sip fluids and eat a light meal if appropriate. Reduce bright light and screen exposure, relax your jaw and shoulders, and note fever, congestion, cough, rash, dizziness or recent heat exposure. Avoid taking repeated doses of pain medicine beyond label directions. If the pattern keeps returning, arrange a clinical review so triggers, medicines, blood pressure and neurological symptoms can be considered together.

Get urgent help for a sudden severe headache, new weakness, facial drooping, confusion, fainting, seizure, stiff neck, new vision change, repeated vomiting or a rapidly worsening illness. Seek prompt assessment for headache with high fever, marked dehydration, bleeding or a widespread rash. A headache after a significant head injury also needs urgent review. Otherwise, book a GP visit when the symptom is new, persistent, recurrent or changing in character.

Ask which features make the pattern more consistent with muscle tension, migraine or an illness such as sinus disease, how to manage symptoms safely, and which warning signs should change your plan. Mention recent travel, heat exposure, infections, allergies, sleep changes and every medicine you use.