TENSION HEADACHES

❓ What Are Tension Headaches?

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They feel like a tight band or pressure around your head, especially in the forehead, back of the head, or neck. The pain is usually mild to moderate, not sharp or pounding.

Unlike migraines, tension headaches usually do not cause nausea, vomiting, or vision changes.

🧪 What Causes Tension Headaches?

Tension headaches can be caused by muscle tension, stress, or poor posture. They may happen when your neck, shoulder, or scalp muscles become tight.

Common causes include:

• Stress or anxiety
  
  

• Lack of sleep
  
  

• Poor posture
  
  

• Skipping meals
  
  

• Eye strain
  
  

• Tiredness or fatigue
  
  

• Caffeine withdrawal
  
  

💊 Treatment for Tension Headaches

Tension headaches usually go away with simple treatments, such as:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil)
  
  

• Rest in a quiet place
  
  

• Relaxation techniques (deep breathing, meditation)
  
  

• Heat or cold packs on the neck or head
  
  

• Neck or shoulder massage
  
  

• Gentle stretching or exercise
  
  

If tension headaches happen often, your doctor may prescribe medications to prevent them or recommend stress management therapy.

🥗 Diet and Lifestyle Tips

There is no special diet for tension headaches, but healthy habits can help:

• Eat regular meals to avoid hunger headaches
  
  

• Drink plenty of water
  
  

• Limit caffeine and avoid too much sugar
  
  

• Avoid skipping meals
  
  

• Get regular sleep
  
  

• Take short breaks if using a computer or reading for a long time
  
  

• Stretch and move around during the day
  
  

⚠️ Special Precautions

• Don’t take pain medicine every day without talking to your doctor—it may cause rebound headaches
  
  

• Try to reduce stress through calming activities
  
  

• Avoid poor posture when sitting or standing
  
  

• Avoid eye strain by resting your eyes if you’re on a screen for long periods
  
  

☎️ When to Call Your Home Health Nurse or Doctor

Call your home health nurse or doctor if:

• Your headaches happen more often or are getting worse
  
  

• The pain doesn’t go away with medicine or rest
  
  

• You need to take pain medicine more than twice a week
  
  

• You feel stressed, depressed, or anxious from the pain
  
  

🚨 When to Go to the Emergency Room (ER)

Go to the ER or call 911 if:

• You have the worst headache of your life
  
  

• The headache starts suddenly and severely
  
  

• You have a fever, stiff neck, confusion, or trouble speaking
  
  

• You have weakness, numbness, or blurred vision
  
  

• You pass out or have a seizure
  
  

© 2025 Judith Regan / K.N.O.W. – Knowledge for Nurturing Optimal Well-Being. All rights reserved. | Educational use only | Not a substitute for medical advice | In emergencies call 911 into this

📘 Patient Homework / Assessment

Instructions: Read each statement. Write True or False at the beginning. If the statement is False, please correct it based on what you’ve learned.

1. True or False: Tension headaches feel like a tight band around your head.
   
   

2. True or False: Tension headaches are the least common type of headache.
   
   

3. True or False: Stress can cause tension headaches.
   
   

4. True or False: Tension headaches usually cause vomiting and vision changes.
   
   

5. True or False: Poor posture can lead to tension headaches.
   
   

6. True or False: Over-the-counter medicines like Tylenol can help relieve tension headaches.
   
   

7. True or False: Using heat or cold packs may help treat tension headaches.
   
   

8. True or False: Drinking plenty of water and not skipping meals may help prevent headaches.
   
   

9. True or False: You should call 911 if you faint during a headache.
   
   

10. True or False: Tension headaches usually feel like throbbing pain on one side of the head.
    
    

11. True or False: Eye strain from screens can trigger a tension headache.
    
    

12. True or False: You should rest in a quiet place if you have a tension headache.
    
    

13. True or False: It’s okay to take pain medicine every day for tension headaches without a doctor’s advice.
    
    

14. True or False: A massage may help reduce the pain of a tension headache.
    
    

15. True or False: You should go to the ER if your headache comes on suddenly and is very severe.
    
    

16. True or False: Tension headaches are always caused by brain tumors.
    
    

17. True or False: Stretching and relaxing can help reduce tension headaches.
    
    

18. True or False: If your headache doesn’t go away with medicine, you should call your nurse or doctor.
    
    

19. True or False: Caffeine can help prevent all tension headaches.
    
    

20. True or False: Getting enough sleep is a good way to prevent tension headaches.
    
    

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

Symptom Identification:

• When you get your headaches, can you describe where the pain is and how strong it feels on a scale from 0 to 10?
  
  

• 
  

Activity Impact/SAFETY:

• Do your headaches make it hard to do your daily activities like school, work, or driving safely?

Treatment Adherence:

• Are you taking any medicine or using any treatments for your headaches, and are you taking them exactly as your doctor told you?
  
  

• 
  

Preventive Measures:

• Have you noticed anything that triggers your headaches, like stress, lack of sleep, or skipping meals, and what steps can you take to avoid those triggers?

© 2025 Judith Regan / K.N.O.W. – Knowledge for Nurturing Optimal Well-Being. All rights reserved. | Educational use only | Not a substitute for medical advice | In emergencies call 911

✅ Answer Key with Reasoning

Instructions for Patient: Mark True or False. If False, correct the sentence using the facts from your education.

1. True – Tension headaches often feel like a tight band around the head.
   
   

2. False – Tension headaches are the most common, not the least common.
   
   

3. True – Stress is one of the leading causes of tension headaches.
   
   

4. False – Tension headaches do not usually cause vomiting or vision changes.
   
   

5. True – Poor posture can strain neck and scalp muscles, causing headaches.
   
   

6. True – Tylenol and ibuprofen are common treatments.
   
   

7. True – Heat or cold packs can relax tight muscles.
   
   

8. True – Skipping meals and dehydration are common triggers.
   
   

9. True – Fainting during a headache is serious—call 911.
   
   

10. False – Tension headaches are usually dull or tight, not throbbing like migraines.
    
    

11. True – Too much screen time can strain the eyes and cause tension headaches.
    
    

12. True – A quiet, calm space can help relieve tension headache symptoms.
    
    

13. False – Taking medicine daily without a doctor’s advice can cause more headaches.
    
    

14. True – Massage can relax muscles and ease pain.
    
    

15. True – A sudden, severe headache could be a medical emergency.
    
    

16. False – Tension headaches are not caused by brain tumors.
    
    

17. True – Stretching, deep breathing, and relaxation help reduce symptoms.
    
    

18. True – If medicine doesn’t work, you should talk to your nurse or doctor.
    
    

19. False – Too much caffeine can actually cause or worsen headaches.
    
    

20. True – Good sleep habits help prevent many types of headaches, including tension headaches.