What is a Stress Headache?

Many people experience headaches. The most common headaches are a stress headache (tension), cluster and migraine headaches.

Stress/tension headaches are symptoms of stress and feel like a band of pressured pain wrapped around your head. It may last for minutes, hours or even days. The most common triggers of a headache are: stress, anxiety, glare and noise. Other known triggers of headaches are: eye strain, fatigue, dehydration, depression and anger, allergies, emotional stress and eating particular foods.

Migraine headaches can be an extreme type of headache, and quite debilitating. If you’ve ever experienced a migraine, you would know that it may hinder your daily activities. A migraine headache may last for a couple of hours or for a few days. The pulsating pain can range from moderate to severe and often results in nausea and/or vomiting.

Cluster headaches occur in clusters of several intense headaches during a short period of time.

What Causes A Stress Headache?

Stress headaches are sometimes symptoms of stress and are triggered by environmental or internal stress. Environmental stress might be something such as noise, sensitivity to animals or plants, long work hours, family issues, finance pressures, moving house, etc. Internal stressors are our thoughts and perceptions about our situation. Continuous worrying about what ‘might’ happen may cause a stress headache. Ongoing stress can lead to chronic tension headaches. A stress headache is a stress symptom that can be avoided.

Handling Headaches

It is usually suggested that a mild pain reliever such as aspirin or paracetamol will relieve the pain of a headache, but is it possible to avoid headaches?

What triggers your headache? If you experience regular headaches, take a journal of what happens just before you experience them. Take note of any symptoms of stress and anything regular that occurs before you experience a headache. It is possible to stop headaches by avoiding what triggers them. Headaches are set off by a specific event, circumstances or environmental factor. Become familiar with what triggers your headaches and steer clear of them as much as possible. Being able to identify what triggers your headaches will possibly give you freedom from headaches altogether.

If you suffer from continuous headaches and other symptoms of stress, see your physician, as occasionally headaches can be a sign of a specific physical condition and may need a particular treatment.

Some Natural Headache Remedies:

Chamomile tea is known for relaxation. Its helps to calm the mind and bring feelings of peace.

Lavender oil is also relaxing. A few drops of lavender oil on the temples helps to relieve tension.

Peppermint oil also offers a relaxing, pain relieving affect.

Regular relaxation techniques can help unwind the body and mind, relieve stress and help to avoid stress related headaches.

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