Tension headache symptoms include a sensation of tightness about the temples. This feeling is typically explained as a band-like pressure. This feeling of tightness typically forms gradually as a painful sensation over the span of a few hours. A tension headache can occur in anyone, and happens often to many people, and is almost always a non-life threatening situation. Even so, these tension headaches can be very painful under some circumstances. A tension headache is classified as a "primary" headache in the medical community, putting it in the most common categorization.

This pain can range widely in intensity, although it is usually described as fairly mild. Tension headache symptoms can be triggered by any number of situations, and the exact causes remain a mystery. It is widely held that physical and emotional stress play a role in tension headache. Tension headache symptoms emerge frequently when the patient is faced with trying situations, and can develop quickly. The headache usually begins as a tight sensation, developing into pain.

Treatment for tension headache symptoms typically involves a simple regimen of over the counter medication. Any number of pain relievers typically work well enough to relieve tension headache symptoms. Pain relievers such as Aleve and Ibuprofin are usually powerful enough to overcome tension headache symptoms. Primary headaches usually happen on a random basis. Regular headaches are sometimes a sign of another issue at play, and should be checked out with a doctor. Tension headache symptoms normally emerge when the patient undergoes physical or emotional stress. Headaches occuring frequently and without provocation are cause for a visit to a specialist. This is especially true when symptoms present on a chronic basis.

More serious tension headache symptoms may present with severe pain. If the pain involved is intolerable or presents with a runny nose/eyes, this may be a sign of a cluster headache. Cluster headaches present as an extremely painful sensation behind the eye. This sensation is sometimes powerful enough to trigger an emotional crisis. Immediate medical care is necessary in these situations.