Tight band squeezing around my head
It feels like a band pulled tight around your head. The press sits across your brow, your temples, and the back of your skull. Some people call it a hat two sizes too small.
This pattern fits what doctors call a tension headache. The pain is usually dull and steady, not pounding. It sits on both sides at once, rather than one.
Tight muscles in the scalp, neck, and jaw often play a part. Long hours at a screen, stress, poor sleep, skipped meals, and clenched teeth are common triggers. Dry eyes or an old glasses prescription can add to the strain.
When to see someone
Get help fast if the pain hits like a thunderclap, or comes with fever, a stiff neck, or a rash. The same goes for a head injury, weak limbs, slurred speech, blurred sight, or confusion. Book a doctor if the band wakes you at night, comes more often, or starts after age 50; a dentist can check for teeth grinding and jaw pain.
Below you will find remedies people have long used for this kind of headache; ask your doctor before you try any of them. Each one carries a grade for the strength of the evidence behind it, not a promise. High grades rest on solid studies, while low grades rest mostly on long use and word of mouth.
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