10 Common Causes of Headaches

2. Muscle Tension

Tight, stiff, or strained muscles can lead to tension headaches. This is especially true for people who have a job that requires them to sit in the same position for long periods, as well as those who experience a lot of anxiety and stress.

Usually, it's tension in the muscles of the head, jaw, neck, or upper shoulders that lead to this kind of headache. Getting massages or taking a regular yoga class are great ways to reduce chronic tension headaches, but using a heating pad, stretching at home, or massaging the areas yourself or with a foam roller can help with this too. As with eye strain, make sure to take breaks during sedentary work days to move any tense muscles.