Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They can be brought on by stressful events, and they are characterized by mild to moderate pain that feels like pressure is being applied to the head or neck. While most people with infrequent tension headache headaches do fine with over-the-counter medications, people with more frequent tension headaches may require more powerful medicine for treatment. In some cases, preventive treatment may also be recommended.

 

What Is a Tension Headache?

A tension headache is named not only for the role of stress may play in triggering the pain, but also for the contraction of neck, face, and scalp muscles brought on by stressful events.
 
Tension headache is a severe but temporary form of muscle-contraction headache. The pain is mild to moderate and feels like pressure is being applied to the head or neck. The headache usually disappears after the period of stress is over. Tension headaches affect some 2-3 percent of people on a chronic basis, with twice as many women affected as men.
 
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. In fact, ninety percent of all headaches are classified as tension headaches. Other names for tension headaches include:
 
  • Tension-type headache
  • Stress headache
  • Ordinary headache
  • Psychogenic headache.
     

Types of Tension Headaches

There are two types of tension headaches –- episodic and chronic. Episodic tension headache occur fewer than 15 days per month. Chronic tension headaches occur on 15 or more days per month, with varied pain throughout the day.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD