Tension headaches, which affect up to 78% of the population, are fairly common. The problem is, they are also one of the most difficult kinds of headache to treat, while also being one of the most neglected, despite its being one of the most frequently observed. Some people would describe tension headache as feeling as if there were a tight band wrapped across your head. When you have the headache for a total of more than half a month per month and it goes on for a few months, you have what is called chronic tension headaches; less frequent occurrences are termed episodic tension headaches.

Tension headaches are certainly painful and debilitating in some cases, but the good news is that they are hardly ever a symptom of a more serious condition. The number of tension headaches a person undergoes has been found effectively reduced by appropriate lifestyle changes, learning of relaxation techniques, as well as some complementary and traditional therapies.

So how do you know if the headache you are having is a tension headache? This type of headache is usually characterized by pain that starts at the back of the head, and from there moves forward. It is often described as a squeezing sensation or pain, accompanied by dull pressure; this is the reason why it is aptly described as a tight band woven around one’s head. In conjunction with the headache, the muscles in the person’s jaw, shoulders, and neck may also feel sore and tight. It affects both sides of a person’s head in equal measure, and it may cause the person to have trouble sleeping or eating.

Tension headaches come about from various causes. One of the most common causes pinpointed is when a person stays in one position too long, such as in using a computer, playing video games, or reading. Stress may also cause tension headaches. Other times there may not be an obvious cause. For several years, experts believed that the headache came about as muscles in the person’s jaw, scalp, shoulders, and neck tense up and tighten, but studies have shown that the muscles of people suffering from tension headaches are not any tighter compared to people who do not have the headache.

As such, studies are now pointing more to the theory of brain chemical changes being the more likely cause of tension headaches, as they are also the main triggers of a migraine. These brain chemicals, also known as neurotransmitters, include serotonin. Of course, they are yet unsure what causes the levels of these neurotransmitters to go down or up, but the changes are believed to activate pain pathways in a person’s brain. Possibly, the tight muscles trigger the change in neurotransmitter level, although alternatively, they may also actually be the result of fluctuating brain chemical levels.

Typically, there are many triggers that experts have found to be highly linked with tension headaches. At the top of the list are anxiety, stress, and depression. Other triggers include eye strain, overexertion, fatigue, skipping meals, tension that causes jaw clenching or teeth grinding, and keeping one’s head in a fixed position for an extended time, including sleeping in a relatively awkward position. Some medications, even those actually designed for headaches, may actually trigger tension headaches.

So how are tension headaches diagnosed? Typically, the doctor will need your detailed history in order to rule out other types of headaches, such as migraines. He will need to know when the headaches happen, how long they tend to last, how often they occur, where the pain is, as well as other symptoms that may come with the headache. As such, if you are concerned about your headaches and would like to consult your doctor, it would help to keep a journal detailing this set of information for your particular case. The doctor will also check your neck, head, eyes, as well as sinuses, and perform a neurologic exam. The doctor may also ask you certain questions for testing short-term memory. Should there be anything unusual, the doctor may call for a CT scan or an MRI just to make sure it is not an aneurysm or a tumor, as well as to check for the presence of sinusitis. An X-ray of the neck may help detect spinal problems or arthritis, and an electroencephalogram or EEG will help check for any seizure activity.

Overall, if your headaches have you concerned, it will be best to see your doctor. But if you are sure they are only tension headaches and can apply significant lifestyle changes such as lesser stress triggers, you may be surprised to find your headaches significantly lessened in intensity and frequency!