Stress and Tension Headaches

The tension headache or stress headache seems to be getting more prevalent especially among women. Patients experience pain on both sides of the head as well as the back and feel that the neck muscles are tight, and the pain that accompanies can be much more troublesome than that caused by a migraine at times. In some patients, the pain manifests itself as a dull tight ache in the forehead and temples that increases in intensity if medication is not administered in time.

Tension/stress headache may become a chronic problem too, where patients suffer tension/stress headache for more than 15 days in one month. Others experience episodic tension/stress headaches. A full 70% to 90% of patients complaining of headaches suffer from tension/stress headaches. Tension/stress headache is one of the most prevalent primary headaches. It is common among children, too, caused by insomnia, tiredness, hunger and fatigue but is more common among people, especially women, between 20 to 50 years of age.

Causes:

These tension/stress headaches are a result of acute tension, anxiety, fatigue, poor posture, cold climatic changes, eye, muscle strain, colds, dehydration, hunger, flues, bad posture while at sleep or by driving for a long time, and depression. Certain other theories about the cause of tension/stress headache are malfunctioning pain filter found in the brain stem, Serotonin levels, hormonal changes, and cervical spine degenerative disease. Ingesting certain other foods can such as caffeine overdoses, fatty foods, and alcohol also causes the tension/stress headache. Some scientists are of the opinion that tension/stress headache can be caused when migraine headaches progress or transform themselves for various reasons. Problems of the temporomandibular joints and liver are also causative factors. Thus, it can be caused by multiple things.

Symptoms:

A steady ache described most commonly as akin to being held by a vice-like grip, an ever-tightening band that causes more pain as the headache progresses if untreated

Neck muscle stiffness
Pain in the forehead, temples and the back of the head
Mild tolerable pain in some, unbearable excruciating pain in others
Muscular tenderness in the neck, shoulder, arms, face, and jaws
A pulsating headache is also reported in some cases.
Pain can last for half an hour to 24 hours or at times weeks.

Treatment:

Tension/stress headaches that are episodic are usually treated by ingesting over-the-counter drugs such as NSAIDs, but chronic tension/stress headache sufferers have to seek professional help. This causes considerable tension in patients who fear rebound headaches that occur because of drug/medication overdoses.

Preventive Measures:

Sleeping comfortably and following regular sleep patterns ensuring proper rest
Setting aside a time to relax by carrying out a favorite activity
Eating healthy nutritious meals at regular intervals
Exercising regularly
Increasing fluid intake, especially water
Hot or cold showers after an exhausting day can be relaxing

Herbal Cures For Headaches:

Butternut
Feverfew
Hops flower
Kudzu root
Lady slipper root
Mistletoe
Orange peel
Sage
Thyme
Valerian root
White willow bark

Alternative Treatments:

Acupuncture, color therapy, aromatherapy, biofeedback therapy, relaxing techniques such as meditations, hypnosis and yoga are said to be effective for stress related headache. Chiropractic care, micro-current and magnetic therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, psychotherapy, massages therapy, natural therapies, Homeopathy, and Ayurvedic cures are popular too. Herbal baths have also been recommended for headaches related to tension and stress.

As wise men say, health is in your hands, if you take good care of it by staying fit, following good dietary habits, exercising regularly and do not abuse it you can stay healthy. Stress is inevitable in this fast-paced competitive world, but if you learn to set aside a time to relax, just a few minutes a day by doing meditation, yoga, you can stay mentally and physically fit. Tension/stress headache can be controlled if you ensure your body is not exhausted and if you learn to face problems in a calm way.