Tension Vs Migraine Headaches: Expert Shares The Difference And Tips To Manage Tension Headaches

All of us have at some point or the other experienced a headache on days that are filled with unusual anxiety and stress. Whether it is too much screen time, work stress, feelings of inadequacy, or the burden of pending tasks, all these familiar daily stressors can manifest in headaches. 

Talking to the team of OnlyMyHealth, Dr Shradha Maheshwari, Consultant Neurosurgeon, RN Cooper Hospital, Founder and Head, Department of Neurosurgery, HBT Medical College, Mumbai, informed that earlier this type of headache was called psychogenic headache, stress headache, psycho myogenic headache, and muscle contraction headache. However, the International Headache Society has now named it a tension headache.  

Difference Between Tension Headache And Migraine

When you hear the word migraine, most of us would jump straight to a headache. However, according to Penn Medicine, headache is just one aspect of a migraine. In reality, migraines are a neurological disorder. Dr Maheshwari shared, “Usually, migraine headaches are unilateral, and have specific triggers like insensitivity to light. Migraine headaches are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and can disrupt your daily routine.”

Tension headaches on the other hand are not so severe that they can disrupt your daily life. Tension headaches can be easily managed with over-the-counter medication. Dr Maheshwari, “Sometimes a mixed tension plus migraine headache may occur. It is more commonly seen in women.” 

“They usually last for 30 minutes to a few hours, but they do have the potential to last a few days. If your tension headache persists beyond a week, consult a doctor immediately,” added Dr Maheshwari. 

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Tips To Deal With Tension Headache 

“The best way to deal with tension headaches is by managing your stress levels. Even though it is difficult to eliminate stress from your life, what's important is that you should not let this stress burden your mind,” recommended Dr Maheshwari. 

Listing some ways to prevent and treat tension headaches, she listed:

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water daily
• Have a timely, balanced meal
• Quit smoking 
• Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or paracetamol can ease your headache
• Vitamins riboflavin, coenzyme Q, and magnesium can be taken in supplement form
• Take a shower
• Avail of acupressure or massage therapy
• Pursue relaxing activities that help take your mind off whatever is stressing you
• Exercise regularly
• Get quality sleep
• Seek therapy or meditate to help yourself keep a positive attitude and deal with stress
• Don’t be too hard on yourself. Take regular breaks from work or daily chores

Dr Maheshwari concluded that if none of the above-mentioned tips work to relieve your tension headache, you must seek medical attention timely. If your headache becomes severe all of a sudden or you notice other accompanying symptoms like double vision, difficulty talking, numbness or weakness, then seeking medical care becomes essential.