What Is Tension Headache?

What is a tension headache?
One of the most common headaches experienced by adults is a tension headache or a stress headache. It is characterized by a dull pain in the head and behind the eyes, sometimes the back of the neck, and a feeling of pressure around the forehead. The person experiencing the headache feels like his head is being squeezed by a clamp. The pain is usually mild to moderate as opposed to the throbbing pain experienced during a migraine.

Why does tension headache occur?
There is no one cause for tension headaches. Numerous factors can come into play such as:

• stress related to personal and professional life
• emotional anxiety
• mental anxiety
• staring at a computer screen for a long time
• excessive smoking and drinking
• drinking too much caffeine
• depression
• exhaustion
• iron deficiency
• sinus infection
• inadequate sleep or insomnia
• hunger
• skipping meals
• fever
• cold
• flu

Tension headaches are generally of two types:

Episodic Tension Headaches - which can last from half an hour to a week. Episodic Tension Headaches occur less than 15 days in a month. If the Episodic Tension Headaches occur more frequently then they become Chronic Tension Headaches.
Chronic Tension Headaches - last for hours on end and occur 15 or more days in a month continuously.
If tension headaches disrupt your daily routine and you need to take medicines as frequently as twice or thrice a week you need to consult your family physician or a general physician.

If your headache suddenly becomes severe and you begin to slur while talking, or experience seizures, you need to contact a doctor without delay. Your headache, in this case, could be a symptom of a more serious underlying cause such as an aneurysm, brain tumor, or a stroke.

What are the symptoms of a tension headache? How is a tension headache diagnosed?
The symptoms of a tension headache include:

• pain and pressure on the forehead, temples and top of the head
• sensitivity to light and sound
• people are able to go about their daily business despite the pain which is not incapacitating
• irritability
• trouble focusing
• tenderness on scalp, shoulder, and neck muscles

Diagnosis
No specific test is required to diagnose a tension headache. The diagnosis is usually based on your history of headaches, and particular times the headaches start for example, after a stressful time at work, being hungry for a long period etc. Your doctor may ask you to take a regular blood test to rule out any abnormality and to find out if there is any iron deficiency. Other than that no CT Scan or MRI is required.