What Is a Tension Headache?
Tension Headache is a common headache pattern linked to pressure, tightness, or aching around the forehead, temples, scalp, or neck. Symptoms often feel steady instead of pulsing. Muscle tension, posture, stress, jaw clenching, and neck irritation may contribute. Tension headaches differ from migraine headaches because they usually lack strong sensory symptoms.
Quick Facts About Tension Headache
Category
Primary headache pattern
Used for
Describing pressure-related head pain
Common confusion
Often confused with migraine or cervicogenic headache
Also called
Tension-Type Headache
Often discussed with
Headache Treatment, Neck Pain Treatment
Key Takeaways About Tension Headache
- Pressure or tightness often distinguishes this headache pattern.
- Neck posture and muscle tension may influence symptoms.
- Tension headaches are not the same as migraines.
How Tension Headache Works
A Tension Headache involves pain processing that may be affected by tight muscles, sustained posture, stress, or irritation in the neck and scalp. The discomfort commonly feels like pressure or a band around the head. Some people also notice tenderness in the scalp, neck, or shoulder muscles.
Related glossary terms: Cervicogenic Headache, Trigger Point, Cervical Lordosis.
Clinicians assess the symptom pattern, location, triggers, neck movement, posture, and related muscle tenderness. A Trigger Point may refer pain toward the head, while a Cervicogenic Headache begins from structures in the neck. These patterns can overlap, so the examination considers the full set of symptoms instead of relying on pain location alone.
From the Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractor Atlanta team
When we assess a Tension Headache, we review the headache pattern, neck movement, posture, and muscle tenderness. We also look for signs that the symptoms may fit another headache pattern. Our Headache Treatment approach uses the examination findings to guide care for the neck and surrounding tissues.
Tension Headache in Practice: A Real-World Example
A person who works at a computer may develop steady pressure across the forehead after prolonged forward-head posture. Neck and shoulder tightness may appear with the headache, especially during periods of stress.
Related Services
Related Terms
Cervicogenic Headache
A cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache caused by irritation or dysfunction in the neck, including…
Trigger Point
A trigger point is a sensitive, irritable area within a muscle or its surrounding tissue that…
Cervical Lordosis
Cervical Lordosis is the natural inward curve of the neck portion of the spine. This curve…
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