Tension headaches usually feel like a tight band around your forehead. In most cases, they may occur as episodes of headache that occur once or twice every month. They can get severe and chronic if they are not treated on time. They are the most common type of headache and can result in severe, moderate, or mild pain close to the eyes and in your neck and head.
What Causes Tension Headaches?
While doctors and medical experts are yet to know the exact cause of tension headache. Various factors may be responsible for tension headaches. For example, several studies show that muscle tension in the head and neck, or poor posture may be responsible for tension headaches. Studies show that irregular tension headaches may occur due to the activation of hyperexcitable peripheral afferent neurons, a set of specialized neurons or nerve cells that send sensory information from pain receptors to the brain. When tension-type headaches occur for a long time, it may cause abnormalities in your central pain processing. You may also experience elevated sensitivity to pain if you had this type of headache for a long time. Experts believe that the risk of developing tension headaches is greatly influenced by genetic factors.
Tension headaches can be triggered by
- Dental problems (such as clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth)
- Eye strain
- Skipping meals
- Fatigue
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- A cold or flu
- Caffeine
- Poor posture
- Stress
- Emotional stress
- Not drinking enough water
- A sinus infection
- Lack of sleep
- Dry eyes