A tension headache, aka stress headache, can be as painful as a migraine. It generally occurs during the day and feels like an all-over dull achy feeling and a sensation of pressure on the head. Sometimes the neck muscles feel tight as well. Tenderness of muscles at the base of the skull, through the shoulder area and in the upper arms might be felt. If you have been clenching or grinding your teeth, the jaw area will be sore too.

A tension headache is different from a migraine in several ways. Both occur most often in women, but a migraine will generally affect one side or the other of the head. Another difference is the age of onset: a migraine condition often begins in the teen years, where tension headaches often don’t occur until middle age. Although a tension headache can be extremely painful, it doesn’t usually cause vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound the way a migraine does.

There are many non-prescription pain relievers on the market that can alleviate tension headache pain, but sometimes a prescription is recommended, perhaps for anxiety or depression. Other methods of treating this type of headache include biofeedback, relaxation techniques and massage. Meditation and yoga are relaxing activities that can cause a tension headache to lessen in severity or to go away completely. Sometimes a hot shower is all it takes to remedy a tension headache. It is possible that removing yourself from the stressful environment, whether it be a walk in the fresh air or even a long weekend away, could be just the thing you need.

Endnotes

http://www.familydoctor.org/x1589.xml

http://www.womenshealthchannel.com/headache/tension.shtml

http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/56/13872.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

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