Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, causing mild to moderate or severe pain behind your eyes, in your head, and neck. Most people who experience tension headaches do so occasionally, meaning it occurs once or twice a month on average; however, tension headaches can also be chronic. Chronic headaches present as episodes lasting more than 15 days a month, with women being more prone to this type of headache compared to men.
**Causes of Tension Headaches:**
The cause of tension headaches is muscle contractions in areas of the head and neck. These types of contractions can be triggered by various factors including certain foods, activities, or stressors. Some people may experience tension headaches after staring at a computer screen for extended periods or after long drives. Cold temperatures can also lead to tension headaches. Other causes include alcohol, eye strain, dry eyes, fatigue, smoking, colds or flu, sinus infections, caffeine, poor posture while sitting or standing, emotional stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, and skipping meals.
Usually, the pain is mild to moderate, but it can also be severe. In such cases, one might confuse tension headaches with migraines. However, migraines typically cause throbbing pain on one side of your head or both, and tension headaches do not have all the migraine symptoms such as nausea and vomiting; in rare cases, tension headaches can lead to sensitivity to light noise, similar to migraines. In severe cases, a doctor may conduct tests to rule out other issues, such as a brain tumor. Tests used to check for other conditions may include a CT scan or MRI.
To start, you can increase your water intake, as dehydration may be the cause of your headache. Additionally, consider how much sleep you are getting; lack of sleep can lead to stress and headaches, and be sure not to skip meals, as this can also trigger headaches. If none of these methods work, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or aspirin to alleviate the tension headache. However, these medications should be used only occasionally and not all the time.
Using over-the-counter medications constantly can lead to medication-overuse headaches, which occur when you become accustomed to a medication, resulting in pain when its effect diminishes. Over-the-counter medications are not always sufficient for treating recurrent tension headaches. In such cases, a doctor may prescribe medication tailored to your condition, and if pain relievers are ineffective, a doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants.
