Pain may also extend into the neck and shoulders. Occasional tension headaches can last from 1-2 hours to all day, or longer. Often they occur in the late afternoon or evening, as a result of accumulated stress during the day. Chronic tension headaches may occur every day, or almost every day, for months or years. They may last from several hours to all day.
Emotional stress is the leading trigger of tension headaches, particularly among chronic sufferers.
But tension headaches may also be triggered by physical causes such as arthritis, poor posture or staying in one position for long periods of time. If chronic tension headaches occur every day or almost every day it is important that you consult a doctor immediately. Migraine headaches are much less common, but when they strike they can be disabling. Migraines produce moderate to severe pounding or throbbing pain, commonly on one side of the head. Migraines vary widely in duration, from a few hours to 3 days.