By the Ima Wellness team · Updated 27 September 2026 · 3 min read
The short answer
Tension headaches feel like a tight band around the head and often come from neck and shoulder tension, stress and screen time; head and neck massage helps many women. Migraines are throbbing, often one-sided, with nausea or light sensitivity, and need a doctor's plan. A sudden, severe headache is an emergency.
Tension headaches feel like a tight band around the head and often come from neck and shoulder tension, stress and screen time; head and neck massage helps many women. Migraines are throbbing, often one-sided, with nausea or light sensitivity, and need a doctor's plan. A sudden, severe headache is an emergency.
Tension headache or migraine?
- Tension headache: pressure or a tight band on both sides, often with stiff neck and shoulders.
- Migraine: throbbing, often one side, with nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, sometimes visual 'aura'. Migraine is more common in women and can follow the menstrual cycle.
Common triggers
Skipped meals, dehydration, poor sleep, long screen time, stress, strong smells, and hormonal changes around periods.
What helps
- Drink water and eat on time.
- Take screen breaks and roll your shoulders every hour.
- Warmth on the neck, or a cool cloth on the forehead.
- A Champi (Indian head massage) or Back & Shoulder massage to release neck and scalp tension.
- For migraine, keep a headache diary and ask your doctor about a treatment plan.
Get urgent help if
A headache is sudden and the worst you've had, comes with fever and a stiff neck, confusion, weakness, trouble speaking or vision loss, or follows a head injury.
Please read: this article is general information about massage and everyday wellbeing. It is not medical advice. If you have pain that is sharp, getting worse, or comes with numbness, tingling, weakness or fever, see a doctor first.
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Book on WhatsAppQuestions women ask
Does head massage help tension headaches?
Many women find a head, neck and shoulder massage eases tension headaches, especially when stress and screen time are triggers.
Can I get a massage during a migraine?
Most people prefer rest in a dark room during a migraine. Massage between attacks can help with neck tension.
