Knowing What Chronic And Stress Headaches Are All About

When people are unable to think properly and look straight, chances are the person has a headache. Cases such as these may be mild to severe which is why doctors say, "its only in the head."

There are two kinds of headaches. The first is called the tension headache, which may happen for a few minutes to a few hours. It usually goes away by drinking some water or taking a break from whatever the person is doing. Those who are experiencing this for more than 15 days in a given month has something worse which is the second kind called a chronic headache. Research shows that there are very few people that have this problem. This often occurs to women than men perhaps because of hormones and other chemicals in the body.

Scientists do not yet know the real cause of a chronic headache. Some attribute it to stress or not getting enough nutrients in the diet. Believe it not, the type of medicine being taken may also be the cause of this problem. Should this occur for more than two days, it is best to consult with a doctor immediately for proper treatment. Doctors will not be able to tell that the patient has a chronic headache. This can only be done after answering some questions such as how long the headaches have happened including one's medical history.

To narrow down the problem, a blood test and a neurological exam will be done on the patient. Two of these tests are the CT scan and the electroencephalogram or EEG. If the brain activity is normal and there are no problems inside like a broken blood vessel or tumor, only then can doctors say it is a chronic headache.

There are various drugs in the market that are there to help treat chronic headaches. Unfortunately, there have been instances where it just got worse after taking it. Should this happen, the patient should stop taking the medicine and try something different.

Some researchers have pointed out the getting help from a chiropractor can make chronic headaches go away. This is because the techniques used by these professionals are not only to relieve any pain or tension in the spine because this comforts the whole body. Another eastern technique that is used to treat chronic headaches is acupuncture. This works by applying needles to sensitive spots to relieve tension in the body.

Other serious causes may include development of brain tumors and other neurologically-related disorders. But, among these factors that trigger the problem, one factor is considered as the hardest to manage varying stress levels.

STRESSING OUT ON STRESS

Stress is nothing but a part and fact of nature. It is one of those factors that affect individuals caused by the ever-changing forces in the environment. Through the years, experts have found out that stress is one of the most common factors that trigger headaches that can either be physical or emotional.

One of the common forms of headaches caused by emotional stress is migraine headache. People who suffer from migraine usually experience stress cause by anxiety, worrying too much, shock, depression, over excitement, and overall mental fatigue.

Aside from drastic mood changes, repressed emotions can also lead to stress headache. Experts agree that stress also plays a big role in developing tension-type headache that are directly related to specific instances of increased worry and concern and can lead to more complications such as sleep disturbances.

In order to know if you are experiencing headache due to stress, check if you have shallow breathing, elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure, and increased levels of adrenaline. Stress headache can also be characterized by tightening of the tensioned muscles in the upper back, shoulders, neck, and head, lowered tolerance to pain, and ineffective painkillers.

Stress headache is indeed considered as the most common type of headache because two out of three people in the world have at least experience one tension headache in their lifetime. Since stress headaches are caused by too much stress a person goes through, the best way to combat it is to avoid a lifestyle filled out with stress.

Other treatment may include taking in medications such as over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin or paracetamol, indulging into relaxing activities such as a massage, diet changes and alterations eating habits, and taking in alternative therapies like acupuncture or chiropractic.

Other short-term treatments include indulgence to microcurrent (TENS) and magnetic therapy, heat treatment like hot baths, facial ice packs, soothing massage especially to the scalp, neck and shoulder areas, getting involved to stress-relieving activities like meditation or hypnosis, regular physical routine and winding up.

Long-term treatments may also include getting involved to aerobic exercises like cycling, swimming or walking, regular relaxation techniques, consultation with a registered psychologist to improve stress management, and taking in antidepressant medications. Aside from taking in prescription medication, you can also undergo stress management under licensed doctors, neurologists, chemists, and other professionals.