Tension Headache Symptoms, Signs, Relief, Causes, and Treatment =

Tension headache definition and facts

• Tension headache is the most common type of headache.
• Although the precise cause of tension headache is unknown, there are factors that seem to contribute to tension headaches, such as
  • stress,
  • impaired sleep, or
  • skipping meals.
• Different conditions may contribute to tension headaches such as vision problems or eye strain, overexertion, muscle strains caused by poor posture have all been associated with development of tension headache.
• While certain foods (processed or aged foods, chocolate, and red wine) can trigger migraine headache, in some cases head and neck movement or physical exertion might trigger a migraine; this is not typical of tension headache.

What is a tension headache?

Headache -- a condition so common it's the punch line for a number of jokes, but when you're experiencing a headache, it's no laughing matter.

When most people discuss headache, they're typically referring to the most frequently experienced type of headache, a tension headache (also known as tension-type or stressheadache). Almost half of adults experienced a headache in the past year; fortunately, for the majority of those individuals, the headache was mild, short-lived, and likely fell into the category of tension headache.

Tension headache pain

1. The pain of chronic tension headache tends to wax and wane in severity.
2. The pain associated with tension headache typically impacts the whole head, but may begin in the back of the head or above the eyebrows.
3. Some people experience a cap or band-like sensation which encircles their skull, while others describe their pain as a muscle tension in their neck or shoulder regions.