Identifying A Stress Headache Cause

The cause of a stress headache, or tension headache, would seem fairly obvious. A stress headache comes from stress. While it is true that some people who are under a lot of pressure will be able to point at their emotional distress as the stress headache cause not everyone can say the same.

Pinpointing the stress headache cause is important so that you can effectively treat the headache. Many people suffer unnecessarily from stress headaches. It can also be very frustrating to have this kind of headache without any effective relief.

Identifying The Symptoms

A tension or stress headache will usually get worse as the day progresses. For some people stress headaches occur on a daily basis or for more than 15 days in a month. This type of stress headache is considered chronic. Headaches that occur less than 15 days in a month are considered to be episodic.

Unlike migraines a stress headache causes mild to medium pain. The pain also occurs on both sides of the head and is described as a tight band around the back or base of the skull. The muscles around the neck area may also feel very tight.

The Causes

With a little thought as to what is going on around you and in your life you should be able to find the stress headache cause. Some of the common causes of headache related to muscle contraction include sleep deprivation, hunger, and anxiety.

If you think about the possible causes and what you were doing prior to experiencing the headache you should be able to determine the stress headache cause. Emotional stress headache causes include problems with family, work related anxiety, feeling isolated, facing a new challenge or test, a perfectionist nature, and facing a new social situation.

Treatment

If you believe the type of pain you are experiencing matches the description of a stress headache then you can use over the counter medication to relieve the pain. It is best to take medication when the pain is still mild rather than when the headache has progressed to an unbearable level.

If there is an emotional stress headache cause then it may be best to try and deal with your emotions than to take medication. Taking medication continuously is not recommended as you feel less relief from the medication as time goes on. You may need a prescription strength drug if over the counter painkillers are ineffective. If you would like to avoid stronger medication then it is best to find the stress headache cause.