Headache
Tension-Type Headache
Alternative terms · Tension headache
Tension headache is a common type of headache often characterized by a feeling of pressure on both sides of the head, as if it is being squeezed by a band.
Overview
Tension-type headache: Please look at these three things first
- A tension-type headache is generally a headache that feels like pressing or squeezing the head, is felt on both sides, and does not significantly worsen with routine daily movements.
- Rather than a single sensation, we look at the number of headache days and painkiller use days per month, along with tension in the neck, shoulders, and jaw, and changes after sleep.
- MigraineSince symptoms may overlap or the pattern of the headache may change, we re-verify your current schedule rather than simply repeating a diagnosis name.
Meaning and Distinctions
What is a tension-type headache?
Even if the intensity is mild, tension-type headaches can significantly impair concentration and sleep over a long period. We check for points where the pain recurs even after relaxing the neck and shoulders, habits of clenching the teeth, screen or work posture, and decreased energy levels. Tension-type headache is a common headache often characterized by a feeling of pressure on both sides, as if the head is being squeezed by a band.
- Easily confused terms
- Migraines may show prominent nausea, light sensitivity, and worsening with movement, but actual symptoms can overlap, so they are distinguished through medical evaluation.
- Why this is checked during medical evaluation
- Even if the intensity is mild, tension-type headaches can significantly impair concentration and sleep over a long period. We check for points where the pain recurs even after relaxing the neck and shoulders, habits of clenching the teeth, screen or work posture, and decreased energy levels.
- What to note down for your visit
- Please record the location of pain, the feeling of pressure, duration, the number of headache days per month, neck/shoulder/jaw/eye fatigue, screen/work posture, sleep/meals/tension, and the number of painkiller use days, along with the dates, and show this during your medical evaluation.
More Details
Connecting tension-type headache to my symptoms
Count the number of headache days and painkiller use days per month rather than the intensity of pain
On a calendar, mark the days you had a headache, the days you had to stop working, and the days you took painkillers using different symbols. It is easier to distinguish days where tension-type headaches and migraines are mixed if you also note whether it feels pressing or throbbing, if it worsens with movement, and if there is discomfort with light/sound or nausea.
Look at the sequence of the jaw, screen use, and sleep, not just the neck and shoulders
Check whether the headache starts on days you sat for a long time, days you clenched your teeth, days you looked at a screen for a long time, or the day after a poor night's sleep. Temporary improvement after relaxing the neck is a different clinical clue than the headache itself decreasing after sleep or meals.
Dividing the goals for acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment
In Korean medicine treatment, if tension around the neck, jaw, and head is prominent, acupuncture is used to observe changes in movement and tenderness. If headaches recur alongside poor sleep, digestive discomfort, cold sensations, fatigue, or heat sensations and tension, the priority for herbal medicine treatment is determined based on that combination. After treatment, rather than a vague feeling of 'less pain,' verify if there are changes in the number of headache days, painkiller use days, or the capacity to work and fall asleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions when looking into tension-type headaches
Is every headache caused by stiff neck and shoulders a tension-type headache?
No. Neck discomfort can also occur during migraines. The location and nature of the pain, movement, light/sound/nausea, and the number of headache days per month must be considered together.
Can tension-type headaches be managed by taking painkillers every day?
If the number of painkiller use days increases, Medication Overuse Headachethis may overlap. Record the days and dosages taken, and consult your prescribing medical staff regarding preventive treatment and a reduction plan.
What are the goals of Korean medicine treatment for tension-type headaches?
Acupuncture treatment focuses on tension and movement around the neck, jaw, and head. Korean herbal medicine treatment is planned by examining patterns of sleep, digestion, fatigue, and heat/cold sensations that fluctuate along with the headache. We track the number of headache days, the number of days painkillers are used, and daily functioning using the same criteria.
Dizziness, Ear, Head, and Face Glossary
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Check guides where this term is used
- Condition GuideTension headacheTension-type headaches usually feel like a band tightening or pressing around both sides of the head, face, and neck. The pain is mild to moderate and does not significantly worsen with daily activities such as walking or climbing stairs. Nausea and vomiting are not typical; if there is severe sensitivity to both light and sound, other types of headaches, such as migraines, must be considered. Sudden onset of severe headache, paralysis, speech impairment, changes in consciousness, high fever, or neck stiffness require immediate emergency evaluation.→
- Medical Evaluation GuideWhat should I prepare before a consultation for dizziness, tinnitus, or headache?Write the first sensation you felt, the posture at onset, the duration, and any concurrent ear symptoms, headache, nausea, or heart rate changes on a single page. Please prepare your MRI, hearing test, nystagmus test, and ECG results along with your medication envelopes, and share what has improved and what remains after treatment. Rather than a perfect diary, recording three representative attacks and scenes that disrupt your daily life is more helpful.→
- Head, Ear, and Face ColumnWhy the sequence is important when dizziness, headache, and nausea occur together→
Evidence and Update Information
The following materials were referenced to verify the basis and scope of the definitions and treatment descriptions.
- International Headache Society: ICHD-3International classification distinguishing migraines, tension-type headaches, chronic headaches, and secondary headaches
- International Headache Society: ICHD-3 Tension-type headacheReferenced the classification criteria based on the nature and frequency of pain for tension-type headaches.
- National Korean Medicine Clinical Information Portal: Standard Korean Medicine Clinical Practice GuidelinesReferenced the general principles for establishing acupuncture and Korean herbal medicine treatment plans based on each patient's combination of symptoms and treatment goals.