Stress and Anxiety Can Cause Tension and Migraine Headaches
Oh, my aching head! We all get headaches, and we all know how much fun they are.
June 6-12 is National Headache Awareness Week, according to the National Headache Foundation (NHF).
In order to promote awareness, it’s important to make a distinction that not all headaches are the same. In fact, there are seven different types, according to the NHF Web site. These include tension-type, migraine, cluster, hormone, sinus, organic and rebound headaches.
Cluster headaches are considered one of the worst types, according to NHF, with severe pain that is generally on one side of the head. They can last weeks to months and then disappear for a period of time, only to come back. People who get this type of headache have on average four headaches a day during the cluster headache series. Stress is not really considered a trigger of this type of headache, since it is caused by a swelling of the blood vessel. This swelling can be caused by or worsened by smoking and drinking alcohol.
Although not a cause of cluster headaches, stress is a major cause of other types of headaches, and those with anxiety disorders also generally have headaches, according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA).
Headaches associated with stress and anxiety disorders are tension and migraine headaches. For example, the ADAA said that “migraines and chronic daily headaches are common in people who suffer from anxiety disorders.”
Chronic tension headaches happen nearly every day and are caused by “temporary stress, anxiety, fatigue or anger,” according to NHF. Depression can also be a cause. They are the same as episodic tension headaches, except episodic tension headaches happen randomly.
Tension headaches are common, and both types are “characterized as dull, aching and non-pulsating pain and affect both sides of the head,” according to the NHF. They can be accompanied by sleep problems, which makes sense because most people would find it difficult to sleep in a constant tense and stressed state, with a headache to boot. These sleep problems (or even just a change in sleep patterns) can then lead to more tension headaches or sometimes migraines.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add a Comment2 Comments
I enjoyed your article - and thanks for putting it in plain English - about the reasons for migraines. I was wondering if you saw anything in your research about particular foods causing migraines?
May 5, 2010 - 7:41amThis Comment
This is absolutely NOT true. Stress does not trigger migraines! It is a disease with the headache as a symptom ONLY. Migraine pain is caused by vasodilation in the cranial blood vessels (expansion of the blood vessels), while headache pain is caused by vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels). Get your facts straight! Migraine sufferers have enough myths to fight. If your headache is caused by stress it is NOT a migraine. http://www.migraines.org/myth/mythreal.htm
August 5, 2010 - 5:36am