What is tension headache?

A common primary headache disorder, characterized by a dull, non-pulsatile, diffuse, band-like (or vice-like) pain of mild to moderate intensity in the head; scalp; or neck. There is no clear cause even though it has been associated with muscle contraction and stress.

How do members experience tension headache?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with tension headache*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for tension headache*

*Data from patients with tension headache, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with tension headache*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Tylenol)
Perceived effectiveness
for tension headache (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
tension headache (2)
Treatment

(Aspirin Low Dose)
Perceived effectiveness
for tension headache (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
tension headache (1)
Treatment

(Naproxen Prescription)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
tension headache (1)

*Data from patients with tension headache, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has tension headache on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 13
20s 140
30s 410
40s 528
50s 464
60s 329
70+ 139

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 524
Female 1,435

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What is tension headache?

A common primary headache disorder, characterized by a dull, non-pulsatile, diffuse, band-like (or vice-like) pain of mild to moderate intensity in the head; scalp; or neck. There is no clear cause even though it has been associated with muscle contraction and stress.



Common symptoms reported by people with tension headache

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for tension headache

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Tylenol)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
545
Tried for
tension headache (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Aspirin Low Dose)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
422
Tried for
tension headache (1)
Treatment name(s)

(Naproxen Prescription)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
376
Tried for
tension headache (1)

Data from patients with tension headache, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with tension headache

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Tylenol)
Perceived effectiveness
for tension headache (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
tension headache (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Aspirin Low Dose)
Perceived effectiveness
for tension headache (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
tension headache (1)
Treatment name(s)

(Naproxen Prescription)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
tension headache (1)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with tension headache, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has tension headache on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 4 new patients joined this month
  • 814 say tension headache is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 13
20s 140
30s 410
40s 528
50s 464
60s 329
70+ 139
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 281
20-29 years 178
30-39 years 88
40-49 years 39
50-59 years 16
60-69 years 4
70+ years 3

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 524
Female 1,435

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 592
Not Diagnosed 292

These charts show data from tension headache patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: