Headaches (Tension-Type)

Headaches (Tension-Type) are a common form of headache that affect the muscles and nerves around the head and neck. They often cause a feeling of tightness or pressure, like a band squeezing the head. This type of headache involves the nervous system and can impact daily activities by causing discomfort and difficulty concentrating. The pain is usually mild to moderate and does not worsen with routine physical activity. Unlike migraines, these headaches typically do not cause nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. They can last from 30 minutes to several hours and may occur sporadically or frequently.

Headaches (Tension-Type) are defined as recurrent episodes of mild to moderate, bilateral, pressing or tightening pain of the head without a pulsatile quality. The core pathology involves muscle contraction and heightened central pain sensitivity in the pericranial muscles and nerves. The exact mechanism is multifactorial, often related to stress, anxiety, or poor posture, leading to increased muscle tension and altered pain processing. These headaches lack the associated features of migraine such as nausea, vomiting, or photophobia. They are the most common primary headache disorder and have significant impact on quality of life due to their frequency and chronicity. Diagnosis is clinical, based on history and exclusion of secondary causes.