Tension Headaches

Causes

Symptoms of a Tension Headache

Tests

Treatment

Prevention

Outlook

What is a tension headache?

Highlights
1. Tension headaches are caused by muscle contractions in the head and neck regions.
2. Ibuprofen or aspirin can be used to relieve tension headaches. However, these medications
should be used sparingly.
3. Tension headaches are usually mild or moderate, as compared to migraines, which cause
throbbing pain on both sides of the head.

A tension headache is the most common type of headache. It can cause mild, moderate, or
intense pain in your head, neck, and behind your eyes. Some patients say that a tension headache
feels like a tight band around their forehead.
The majority of people who suffer from tension headaches have episodic headaches, which occur
one or two times per month on average. However, tension headaches can also be chronic.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, chronic headaches affect about 3 percent of the U.S.
population and include headache episodes that last for more than 15 days per month. Women are
twice as likely to suffer from tension headaches as men.

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CAUSES

Causes of tension headaches

Tension headaches are caused by muscle contractions in the head and neck regions. A variety of
foods, activities, and stressors can cause these types of contractions. Some people develop
tension headaches after staring at a computer screen for a long time or after driving for long
periods. Cold temperatures may also trigger a tension headache.

Other triggers for tension headaches include:

alcohol
eye strain
dry eyes
fatigue
smoking
a cold or flu
a sinus infection
caffeine
poor posture
emotional stress
SYMPTOMS OF A TENSION HEADACHE

Symptoms of a tension headache

Symptoms of a tension headache include:

dull head pain

pressure around the forehead
tenderness around the forehead and scalp
The pain is usually mild or moderate, but it can also be intense. In this case, you might confuse
your tension headache with a migraine, which is a type of headache that causes throbbing pain
on one or both sides of your head. However, tension headaches dont cause all the symptoms of
migraines, such as nausea and vomiting. In rare cases, a tension headache can cause sensitivity to
light and loud noise, similar to migraines.

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TESTS

Considerations
In severe cases, your doctor may run tests to rule out other problems, such as a brain tumor.
Tests used to check for other conditions may include a CT scan, which uses X-rays to take
pictures of your internal organs and an MRI, which can help your doctor examine your soft
tissues.

TREATMENT

How to treat a tension headache

Medications and home care

You can take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, to get rid of
a tension headache. However, these should only be used occasionally. According to the Mayo
Clinic, using OTC medications too much may lead to overuse or rebound headaches. These
types of headaches occur when you become so accustomed to a medication that you experience
pain when the drugs wear off.

OTC drugs are sometimes not enough to treat recurring tension headaches. In such cases, your
doctor may give you a prescription for medication, such as:

indomethacin
ketorolac
naproxen
opiates
prescription-strength acetaminophen
If painkillers are not working, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant, which is a
medication that helps stop muscle contractions. Your doctor may also prescribe an antidepressant
such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). SSRIs can stabilize your brains levels
of serotonin and can help you cope with stress.

Your doctor may also recommend other treatments, such as:

stress management classes to teach you ways to cope with stress and how to relieve tension
 biofeedback, which is a relaxation technique that teaches you to manage pain and stress
cognitive behavioral therapy, which is talk therapy that helps you recognize situations that
cause you stress, anxiety, and tension
acupuncture, which is an alternative therapy that may reduce stress and tension by applying
fine needles to specific areas of your body

Supplements

Some supplements may also help relieve tension headaches. However, since alternative remedies
can interact with conventional medications, you should always discuss these with a doctor first.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the
following supplements may help prevent tension headaches:

butterbur
coenzyme Q10
feverfew
magnesium
riboflavin (vitamin B-2)
Other ways to ease a tension headache include:

applying a heating pad or ice pack to your head for five to 10 minutes several times a day
taking a hot bath or shower to relax tense muscles
improving your posture
taking frequent computer breaks to prevent eye strain
However, these techniques may not keep all tension headaches from returning.

PREVENTION

Preventing future tension headaches

Since tension headaches are often caused by specific triggers, identifying the factors that cause
your headaches is one way to prevent future episodes.

A headache diary will help you determine the cause of your tension headaches. You can keep a
record of your daily meals, beverages, and activities, as well as any situations that trigger stress.
For each day that you have a tension headache, make a note of it. After several weeks or months,
you may be able to make a connection. For example, if your journal shows that headaches
occurred on days when you ate a particular food, this food may be your trigger.

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OUTLOOK

Outlook for tension headaches

Tension headaches often respond to treatment and rarely cause any permanent neurological
damage. Still, chronic tension headaches can affect your quality of life. These headaches can also
make it difficult for you to participate in physical activities. You may also miss days of work or
school. If it becomes a serious problem, talk to your doctor.

Its important not to ignore severe symptoms. Seek medical attention immediately if you have a
headache that starts suddenly or a headache accompanied by slurred speech, loss of balance, or a
high fever. This can indicate a much more serious problem, such as a stroke, tumor, or
an aneurysm.

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Medically Reviewed by Steven Kim, MDon October 20, 2015 Written by Valencia
Higeura and Kristeen Cherney
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