Neck & Head
Tension-Type Headache
Also called: Stress headache
The most common headache type: a band-like, pressing pain on both sides of the head, driven by muscle tension, stress physiology, posture, and often the neck and jaw. Episodic ones are a nuisance; chronic ones (15+ days per month) deserve a real plan, not just daily pain relievers — which can themselves cause rebound headaches.
Common signs
- Dull, pressing, band-around-the-head pain on both sides
- Mild to moderate intensity — annoying, not disabling
- Tight, tender scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles
- No nausea or vomiting; light/sound sensitivity minimal
Seek help now if
- Sudden severe onset
- Headache with fever, stiff neck, or neurological changes
- Progressively worsening pattern over weeks
- New headache in someone over 50 or with cancer history
If any of these is sudden or severe, call 911 or go to an emergency room. For the others, get examined before you start self-care.
What to do first
- Log frequency, duration, and triggers for two weeks — the pattern guides care
- Address the big four: sleep, hydration, screen posture, stress load
- Limit over-the-counter analgesics to fewer than 2–3 days per week to avoid rebound headache
The longer road
- Chronic tension headache almost always has a neck and postural component worth examining
- Build a daily practice: breathwork, mobility, strength, consistent sleep-wake times
- If overlapping migraine features exist, refine the diagnosis — treatment differs
Natural healing options we use
- Chiropractic care for cervical and upper thoracic restriction
- Manual therapy for suboccipital, temporalis, and trapezius trigger points
- Breathwork and downregulation training
- Magnesium and hydration protocols
- Regular aerobic exercise — one of the best-evidenced headache treatments
About imaging
Not needed for typical presentations. Reserved for red flags or changing patterns.
Daily self-care
- Steady water across the day in spaced servings (the Water Guide works out your number)
- Scheduled screen breaks with shoulder rolls and chin tucks
- A wind-down routine protecting 7–9 hours of sleep
How we can help
Dry Needling
Learn more →Massage & Soft-Tissue Therapy
Learn more →Chiropractic Adjustments
Learn more →Keep working on it at home
Once you have been examined and cleared to load it, these free home programs cover this part of the body.
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Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.