Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

What is the most common type of headache caused by the contraction of neck and scalp muscles?

1. Tension headaches

2. Vascular headaches

3. Cluster headaches

4. Ischemic headaches

The correct answer is: Tension headaches

Tension headaches are indeed the most common type of headache associated with the contraction of neck and scalp muscles. They typically arise from stress, anxiety, poor posture, or prolonged periods of tension, which lead to muscle tightness in these areas. This muscle contraction can cause a dull, aching pain that often wraps around the head, sometimes described as feeling like a tight band. In contrast, vascular headaches, such as migraines, involve changes in the blood flow to the brain and are often characterized by throbbing pain and can include symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Cluster headaches are intense, severe headaches that occur in cyclical patterns or clusters and are typically localized to one side of the head, often around the eye. Ischemic headaches are not a recognized category of headache types; instead, the term generally applies to conditions involving reduced blood flow to the brain, leading to stroke or transient ischemic attacks, but not to types of headaches. Understanding these distinctions reinforces why tension headaches, linked to muscle tightness and stress, are the most common form patients experience.