VHOSPITAL.CLINIC · Medical Condition
Tension-Type Headache: Overview, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Tension-type headache is the most common headache disorder, causing a dull, pressing, bilateral head pain described as a tight band. Stress, poor posture, and sleep deprivation are common triggers; it responds to simple analgesics.
Updated March 27, 2026
Explore Tension-Type Headache
Common Symptoms of Tension-Type Headache
Medical Questions About Tension-Type Headache
Clinical Insights
Clinical Overview
High-level clinical summary, typical presentation and rule-out logic for Tension-Type Headache
Treatment & Management
Evidence-based treatment pathway, medications, monitoring & escalation for Tension-Type Headache
Complications & Risks
Early, long-term, and emergency complications of Tension-Type Headache
Prognosis & Outlook
Long-term clinical outlook, improving/worsening factors, and monitoring for Tension-Type Headache
Differential Diagnosis
Conditions that mimic Tension-Type Headache — key distinguishing features & tests
Clinical Comparisons
Tension-Type Headache is frequently confused with these conditions — see head-to-head comparisons for distinguishing tests and treatment differences.
Clinical Q&A
Medical References
Content on this page is informed by evidence-based clinical sources including:
- World Health Organization (WHO)Global health guidance and disease classification
- National Health Service (NHS)UK clinical guidelines and patient information
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)US public health data and clinical recommendations
- PubMed – NCBIPeer-reviewed biomedical literature and clinical studies
- Cochrane LibrarySystematic reviews and meta-analyses in evidence-based medicine
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