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Headache
Tension headache
Headache behind eyes
Headache on the side of my head
Scalp tenderness
Back of head pain
Constant dull headache
Heavy, tight headache
Stiff neck and headache
Headache on one side of my head
Sudden dizziness
Stiff neck
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Tension Headache?
A type of headache with a band-like, pressing sensation at the forehead and sides. Causes include physical stress, such as long periods of desk work and driving, or mental stress.
Typical Symptoms of Tension Headache
- Headache that worsens with lack of sleep
- Pain at the back of the head
- Headache that worsens with emotional stress or anxiety
- Headache
- Headache that worsens after long hours at the desk
- Stressed over daily life
- Headache interfering with daily activities
- Headache that improves with warmth / bathing / showering
Diagnostic Questions for Tension Headache
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Does your headache get worse when you haven't slept enough?
- Do you have pain at the back of your head?
- Does your headache worsen when you experience emotional stress or anxiety?
- Do you have a headache?
- Do your headaches get worse after spending long hours at your desk?
Treatment of Tension Headache
Treatment involves lifestyle changes and medications. Getting more sleep, improving your posture, and reducing workload may help relieve symptoms. Medications like painkillers and muscle relaxants can also help. However, patients should be aware that overusing these medicines can cause a different type of headache (medication overuse headache).
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Content updated on Feb 19, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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FAQs
Q.
What are the causes of continuous headaches for days?
A.
Continuous headaches lasting for several days can be caused by a variety of factors, including tension-type headaches, migraines, medication overuse, and more serious underlying conditions. Understanding these potential causes is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment.
References:
McNeil M. Headaches in Adults in Primary Care: Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Med Clin North Am. 2021 Jan;105(1):39-53. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2020.09.005. PMID: 33246522.
Becker WJ, Findlay T, Moga C, Scott NA, Harstall C, Taenzer P. Guideline for primary care management of headache in adults. Can Fam Physician. 2015 Aug;61(8):670-9. PMID: 26273080; PMCID: PMC4541429.
Robbins MS. Diagnosis and Management of Headache: A Review. JAMA. 2021 May 11;325(18):1874-1885. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.1640. PMID: 33974014.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Ashina S, Mitsikostas DD, Lee MJ, Yamani N, Wang SJ, Messina R, Ashina H, Buse DC, Pozo-Rosich P, Jensen RH, Diener HC, Lipton RB (2021). Tension-type headache. Nature reviews. Disease primers.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33767185/Jensen R (1999). Pathophysiological mechanisms of tension-type headache: a review of epidemiological and experimental studies. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10448549/Cathcart S, Winefield AH, Lushington K, Rolan P (2010). Stress and tension-type headache mechanisms. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20873360/