Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of primary headaches, and are responsible for the vast majority of all headache presentations. Approximately 3% of people are chronic sufferers.

They were renamed tension-type headaches by the International Headache Society in 1988.

Usually, the pain is band like across the forehead, but can radiate from the neck, back or eyes.

Typically, they last four to six hours.

There are often identifiable triggers e.g. stress, hunger, sleep deprivation or eye strain.

Learning bite

Frequent use of analgesic medications (paracetamol, codeine and NSAIDs) in patients with tension-type headache may lead to the development of medication overuse headache or rebound headache.