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Pain in the back of the head is often associated with tension headaches. Tension headache is usually described as dull and moderate. People experience unpleasant and achy sensations of pressure on the forehead at the sides or back of the head that are similar to having a tight band around the head.

The exact cause of tension headaches is not fully known, however researches believe that it is closely linked to changes of brain chemicals (serotonin, endorphins), that work as neurotransmitters (substances that help nerves to communicate) and vasoconstrictors (substances that cause blood vessels to constrict).

There is also evidence that both tension headaches and migraines have similar cause and therefore are related. Even though migraine headaches are usually more intense than tension headaches and start on one side of the head, sometimes the sufferer may also feel pain in the back of the head, around eyes or in the forehead.

Headache in the back of the head may be triggered by stress that leads to muscle tension, lack of sleep, skipping meals or overeating, poor posture, lack of exercise, uncomfortable position during sleep (sleeping on high pillows or using too many of them), depression or anxiety and overuse of headache medications, especially pain-killers and sedatives. For women both tension and migraine headaches tend to worsen during or right after menstruation, menopause, pregnancy and use of oral contraceptives.

Although tension headaches and migraines in most cases are not the result of any underlying serious diseases (brain tumor), if left untreated over the time can become chronic. Your headaches are considered chronic if you get them 15 or more days a month for at least three months. Chronic headaches are a lot harder to treat and sometimes they may persist for years. Many people suffering from chronic headaches complain that their pain becomes daily and almost continuous.

Fortunately, there are many different treatments available, if you don't want to wake up and go to bed with a headache every day. The most effective way of managing any headache is to prevent it. To do that you need to avoid things that may provoke your headache, learn to manage your stress using various relaxation techniques, incorporate healthy diet and regular exercise into your lifestyle and find the most effective combination of safe non-drug treatments like herbal remedies, acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, massage, meditation or hypnosis.

If you experience pain in the back of the head, over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen are, of course, the fastest way to stop your headache, but they are certainly not the safest way. Try to avoid taking painkillers and sedatives, unless absolutely necessary, as they can lead to rebound headaches and make the pain worse.