Published on Nov 12, 2015 and last reviewed on May 16, 2023 - 5 min read
Abstract
This article discusses in detail the signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, treatment and preventive measures of stress headache.
Introduction
Headache means simply pain felt in head either one or both sides or all over the head. International headache society divides headache into two types such as primary and secondary headaches. Primary headache means headache is not associated with any cause. Secondary headache means headache is associated with some other underlying disease. Tension or stress type headache is one of the types of primary headache. Tension type headache (commonly called stress headache) encounters 69 % of the people with primary headaches.
Stress headache is defined as chronic head pain with bilateral tight, band like discomfort. The main cause of stress headache is anxiety, aggressive nature, poor posture and depression.
Clinical Features of Stress Headache:
Headache starts suddenly and increases gradually. It is a type of chronic headache. Its intensity of pain fluctuates every minute and may last more or less continuously for many days and months. This type of headache has typical characteristics. Headache may be episodic (pain attack on and off), or chronic (present more than 10 to 15 days per month). Patients have throbbing type of pain in stress headache. Pain type has not pulsatile quality as in migraine. Pressure and tightening sensations are felt in head.
The location of the pain is usually occipitonuchal (nape of the neck), occipitofrontal (front of the forehead), bilateral, and fronto occipital region (all over the head). It is not aggravated by physical activity and intense light. Minimum 10 to 12 headache episodes are present.
Patient complains about band like squeezing pain in head. It may be elicited by excess stress and worry. Difficulties related to concentrating are present. Insomnia (disturbances while sleeping) may disturb patient’s life. Clinical approach for exact diagnosis for TTH (tension type headache) in persons with headache is absence of usual signs and symptoms associated with headache. Stress headaches are not associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light), osmophobia (increased sensitivity or headache due to odors), throbbing, flashing lights, blind spots, or numbness or weakness of the arms or legs and aggravation with movement.
Presence of one or more of these clinical features is the main difference from stress headache. International headache society stated definition of stress headache as, presence of various combinations of clinical features such as nausea, or photophobia, but appendix definition does not contain this, this suggests that there are so much difficulties in diagnosing stress headaches.
It is not clearly understood. Presence of TTH is due to primary disease of central nervous system pain modulation mechanism which is absent in the migraine, which hampers generalized disturbance of sensory pathway. Some researcher suggests that TTH is due to genetic cause, similar to migraine. Some of them stated that pain is due to tension in the nervous system. Muscle contraction is also present in stress type of headache.
Sometimes patient does not pay attention to the headache, and gets relieved by pain killer. Sometimes this over the counter pain killer may increase the chance of overuse headache. Various techniques are used to relieve stress headache.
Hot and Cold Compress - sometimes patient may get relief from pain by using hot and cold pack. Hot pack causes increase in blood circulation in the head and removes waste products and toxins which are responsible for pain such as substance p (neurotransmitters which produce pain). Hot compress should be done for 5 times a day. It gives symptomatic relief. Some patients are comfortable with cold compresses. It creates "Lewis hunting reaction" which means repeated constriction of blood vessels followed by repeated vasodilatation of blood vessels which in turn causes removal of toxins and reduces pain.
Pharmacological Treatment:
Techniques such as biofeedback and relaxation therapy are used to get rid of stress.
These above stated modalities, pharmacological therapy, cognitive therapy and relaxation may help to alleviate headache. Stress headache is not as severe as migraine. It can be cured totally with some modifications in the lifestyle.
Conclusion
Stress headache also known as tension headache is almost experienced by everyone, but it is not necessary that the person should suffer from pain. Over-the-counter painkiller medication can help to deal with mild symptoms. Medications along with stress management help people to lower the impact of tension headaches. A few other options which can help people to deal with tension headaches are massage, medication, exercise, and talking out with someone. Some lifestyle changes also help to reduce stress headaches.
The presence of Tension-type headache (TTH) is due to the primary disease of central nervous system pain modulation mechanism which is absent in the migraine, which hampers generalized disturbance of sensory pathway. Some research suggests that TTH is due to a genetic cause, similar to migraine. However some state that pain can be due to tension in the nervous system. Muscle contraction is also present in stress type of headache.
The location of the pain is usually occipitonuchal (nape of the neck), occipitofrontal (front of the forehead), bilateral, and front occipital region (all over the head). It is not aggravated by physical activity and intense light. A minimum of 10 to 12 headache episodes is present.
- Massages.
- Barbiturates therapy.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Over-the-counter painkillers.
- Therapy with acetylsalicylic acid.
- Hot and cold compress.
Headache starts suddenly and increases gradually. It is a type of chronic headache. The intensity of pain fluctuates every minute and may last more or less continuously for many days and months. Thus, headaches are not generally considered serious.
Patients must try sleeping on their back or on their side with a body pillow and their neck in a neutral posture followed by exercise and stretching. A therapy cane or a hard therapy ball can be used in order to massage out and stretch the neck as well as the shoulder muscles.
A stress headache is defined as chronic head pain with bilateral tight, band-like discomfort. The main cause of stress headache is anxiety, aggressive nature, poor posture, and depression which lasts for a minimum of 10 to 12 days in a month.
No, it is not normal to have headaches on a regular basis. Such kind of a headache that occurs every day is referred to as a chronic headache.
Riboflavin, which is commonly known as vitamin B2, is known to be one of the most commonly prescribed vitamins for headaches and must be taken only after being prescribed by a health care professional.
Yes, overthinking or thinking about the same thing again and again, can cause irritation and headache in the long run. Thus, a person is suggested to not overthink at any given point in time in order to maintain their sanity and mental health.
- Headache.
- Frustration.
- Loss of appetite.
- Confusion.
- Lack of focus.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Emotional disturbances.
- Restlessness.
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Hair loss.
- Memory loss.
Last reviewed at:
16 May 2023 - 5 min read
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