Self Help

You have probably heard of the term “tension headache,” which refers to the most common type of headache. Some doctors refer to it as “muscle-contraction headache.” Most people, even those who do not experience headaches regularly, have had a tension-type headache at some point in their lives.

Tension headache often occurs when you’re feeling stressed, though that’s not what the term means. In fact, doctors changed the name of this headache category from “tension headache” to “tension-type headache” to get away from the idea that stress or psychological problems are the only causes.

What causes tension-type headaches? Similar to migraine, tension-type headaches can be brought on by stress or tension as well as lack of sleep. These headaches may also result from neck problems or poor posture. Sometimes jaw or dental problems can induce tension-type headaches as well as oral and facial pain.

According to a study that was done in 1998, women experience 15% more tension-type headaches than men do. It might be a hormonal issue, because many studies concluded that the headaches occur around menstruation. But there is no clearly demonstrated association between this kind of headache and menstruation.

Tension-type headaches are most common among 30 to 39 year olds. This doesn’t mean that if you are 45, you can’t get a tension-type headache. You can. It’s just less likely. As with migraine, the prevalence of tension-type headaches decreases with age.

Tension type headaches are different from migraines in several ways. First, the pain of tension-type headache is usually not one-sided. It’s a pressure, squeezing, or tight kind of pain, whereas migraine pain is usually pulsating or throbbing.

Tension-type headaches, which are of mild to moderate intensity, are not worsened by exertion such as climbing stairs. Nor are they associated with nausea or vomiting. The person suffering from a tension-type headache does not usually avoid bright lights or loud sounds.

Migraine sufferers can also experience tension-type headaches. In fact, some headache specialists consider tension-type headache and migraine to be different facets of the same thing, probably due to the same biochemical brain abnormalities.

Very few tension-type headache sufferers (less than 20%) have seen a doctor about their headaches. This is unfortunate, because there are medications and treatments that can help. Get medical attention immediately if you or someone you know has chronic tension-type headaches.