Understanding Tension Headache: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Tension Headache

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Stress Headache - Tension-Type headache (TTH)

General

A tension headache is the most common type of headache. It can cause mild, moderate, or intense pain behind your eyes and in your head and neck. Most people who experience tension headaches have episodic headaches. These occur one or two times per month on average. However, tension headaches can also be chronic. Many factors can contribute to the development of tension headache, such as lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, poor posture, emotional stress, eye strain, poor health and more.

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Signs & symptoms

Symptoms include: * dull head pain * pressure around the forehead * tenderness around the forehead and scalp The pain is usually mild or moderate, bilateral, nonthrobbing, without nausea or vomiting.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of tension headache is based upon clinical impression and your description of symptoms. There are no diagnostic tests specific for tension headache. your doctor may order additional tests to rule out other conditions, including head imaging.

Treatment

* lifestyle changes: drink more water, avoid lack of sleep, Relaxation techniques and more. * Analgesic drugs like paracetamol, aspirin, NSAID's and more. * preventive therapy with drugs such as certain anti-depressants. * other treatments: psychotherapy, Acupuncture, Biofeedback.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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