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Tension headache
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Tension headache is the most common of all the headaches called primary, meaning the ones that are the disease itself and not a symptom of something else.
It is recognized by how it feels. It is recurrent, meaning it comes back; it is mild to moderate in intensity; it is bilateral, showing up on both sides of the head and not just one; and it is described as a pressing or band-like tightness. Like a tight band around the head, pressing equally on both sides. One more feature sets it apart: it does not get worse with routine physical activity, not even with walking.
Each episode can last anywhere from half an hour to seven days. As for the mechanism, the truth is that it is not known exactly. What is clear is that two sensitization processes are involved, one peripheral, in the nerves outside the brain, and one central, within the pathways that process pain.
In brief
Tension headache is the most common primary headache.
It is recurrent, mild to moderate, bilateral, and pressing or band-like, and it does not get worse with routine physical activity.
Like a tight band around the head, pressing equally on both sides.
Episodes last from 30 minutes to 7 days; the exact mechanism is unknown, though both peripheral and central sensitization play a role.
Sources (1)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingMuscle Contraction Tension Headache, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated