What are tension-type headaches?

By Cristiano Antonino On May 11, 2023

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Tension-type headaches are a common headache often causing mild-to-moderate pain, which some describe as feeling like a tight band around their head

Tension headaches can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers or antidepressants if a prescription is needed.

Other treatments include lifestyle changes and learning to ways to respond to stresses.

What are headaches?

Headaches are a common health problem.

Almost everyone experiences one at some point in life.

But they’re not all the same.

Medical experts group headaches into more than 100 types.

For most people, headaches lead to minor aches or pains and happen occasionally (every once in a while).

Less commonly, more severe headaches (such as migraines) can cause throbbing pain.

Some headaches may make routine tasks difficult or near impossible.

Rarely, severe, sudden head pain can be a sign of a serious health problem, such as a brain tumor.

What are tension-type headaches?

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache.

These headaches often cause mild-to-moderate pain around the head, face or neck.

They usually don’t cause other symptoms (like nausea or vomiting).

Healthcare providers generally don’t consider tension headaches to be dangerous.

Your healthcare provider may call your tension headache, “tension-type headache.

This is what this headache is called by the official medical publication that classifies all headache disorders.

What are the types of tension-type headaches?

Healthcare providers break down tension headaches into two main types.

They base the type on how many headaches you have and how often:

Episodic tension-type headaches happen less often (fewer than 15 days a month).

Your provider may call them “infrequent” if you have one or fewer headaches each month.

Chronic tension-type describe when your headache days outnumber headache-free days.

Chronic tension headaches happen 15 or more days each month for more than three months in a row.

How common are tension headaches?

People don’t always see their doctor for a tension headache, which makes exact numbers hard to predict.

Researchers estimate that as many as 2 in 3 adults in the U.S. get tension headaches.

Chronic tension headaches are much less common.

They affect an estimated 3% of adults.

Women get tension headaches more often than men.

What causes tension headaches?

Researchers haven’t identified one single cause for tension headaches.

This headache type is not hereditary (run in families).

Some healthcare providers believe tightened muscles in the back of your head or neck may trigger (bring on) tension headaches.

What are some triggers that may bring on tension-type headaches?

You may be more likely to have tension headaches if you have:

Eye strain, such as from staring at a computer screen for a long time.
Pain in other parts of your head and neck caused by problems such as temporomandibular disorders.
Problems sleeping, such as insomnia.
Stress related to family, work or life challenges, such as starting or losing a job or juggling too many commitments.

How does a tension-type headache feel?

People experience tension headache symptoms differently.

Some people describe tension headache pain as feeling like someone (or something) is squeezing both sides of their head together or a band around their head.

You may have pain that’s:

Constant (but not throbbing).
Mild or moderate (not severe).
On both sides of the head.
Better after you take over-the-counter pain relievers.

How is a tension-type headache different from a migraine?

Migraines are another common headache type.

Migraines and tension headaches tend to cause different symptoms.

A migraine is more likely to cause:

More severe pain.
Throbbing or pounding pains.
Symptoms focused on one side of the head.
Pain that gets worse when you’re near bright lights or loud sounds.
Nausea or vomiting.

How long does a tension-type headache last?

That depends.

A tension-type headache may last for 30 minutes or (less commonly) months.

In general, episodic tension headache symptoms tend to come on slowly and end sooner.

They often happen in the middle of the day.

Episodic headaches usually don’t last longer than a week.

People with chronic tension-type headaches can have symptoms that last for months at a time.

Pain may stay at the same level of discomfort for days.

While uncommon, these headaches can take a toll on your quality of life.

Is a tension-type headache dangerous?

Not according to medical experts.

While chronic tension-type headaches can disrupt your life, tension headaches don’t tend cause serious health issues.

Sometimes tension-type headaches may be a sign of an underlying disorder such as thyroid disease or an underlying tumor or a primary headache disorder, such as chronic migraine or new daily persistent headache.

Anyone over age 50 with a new onset headache should see their doctor for an evaluation .

How are tension-type headaches diagnosed?

No test exists to definitively diagnose tension headaches.

Your healthcare provider will start by reviewing your medical history.

They will then examine you to evaluate your symptoms.

Your provider may ask you a lot of questions to learn more about your symptoms, such as:

Do your symptoms feel worse at certain times of the day?
Do your symptoms feel worse after eating certain foods?
Do over-the-counter pain relievers help you feel better?
How often do you have symptoms?

How would you describe your stress levels?

A headache specialist will use a diagnostic manual called the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3 to make sure that you fulfill criteria for tension-type headache.

In some cases, your provider may order an imaging scan, such as an MRI.

Imaging tests can help rule out less common but potentially serious causes of your symptoms.

Learn more about headache diagnosis and tests.

How are tension-type headaches treated?

If you get a tension headache every so often, over-the-counter pain relievers may effectively treat your pain.

Your provider may recommend you first try one of these options to relieve your symptoms:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol®).
Aspirin.
Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®).
Naproxen sodium (Aleve®).

Are there any other tension headache medication options?

If over-the-counter pain relievers don’t help, your provider may prescribe medication.

Certain medications reduce how often your headaches happen or how much they hurt.

The antidepressant amitriptyline (Elavil®) has helped some people with chronic tension headaches.

Opioids should not be used.

Are there any risks to taking medication to treat tension headaches?

Over-the-counter pain relievers are generally safe.

But overusing pain relievers can cause other problems.

Make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle carefully.

Always check in with your provider if you feel the need to use pain relievers more than twice a week.

Take these medications only when you need them.

Use the smallest dose that relieves your pain.

In general, overusing pain medications may cause:

Headaches: Taking pain relievers too often can actually cause a headache (called rebound headaches) when you stop taking the medicine. This effect is similar to withdrawal.
Other side effects: All drugs have side effects. Avoid taking aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, too often. Overuse may cause stomach pain, bleeding or ulcers. If you take any medication regularly, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
Reduced benefits over time: Your body can build up a tolerance (get used to) any medication. You may notice that a medication you’ve used regularly doesn’t work as well as it once did.
Dependence: Some medications can become addictive. They may pose more risks than benefits. For that reason, healthcare providers usually recommend against prescribing benzodiazepines and narcotics (such as codeine and oxycodone) to treat tension headaches.

References

American Migraine Foundation. Tension-Type Headache. (https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/tension-type-headache/) Accessed 11/18/2021.
International Headache Society. Tension-Type Headache. (https://ichd-3.org/2-tension-type-headache/?sfw=pass1606145267) Accessed 11/18/2021.
Merck Manuals. Medication Overuse Headache. (https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/headache/medication-overuse-headache) Accessed 11/18/2021.
Merck Manuals. Overview of Headache. (https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/quick-facts-brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/headaches/overview-of-headache) Accessed 11/18/2021.
Merck Manuals. Tension Headaches. (https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/quick-facts-brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/headaches/tension-headaches) Accessed 11/18/2021.
World Health Organization. Headache Disorders. (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/headache-disorders) Accessed 11/18/2021.
National Headache Foundation. Tension-Type Headache. (http://www.headaches.org/2007/10/25/tension-type-headache/) Accessed 11/18/2021.