Getting Anxiety Headaches?
Anxiety or tension headaches are the most common type of headaches. Almost everyone has suffered this type of headache at some point or the other. The pain is a dull ache that feels like a tight band around the head. It is seldom debilitating and most individuals can carry on with their daily activities, allowing the headache to stop by itself. Clearly, the cause in most cases is related to stress.
So why does stress lead to a headache? The exact co-relation is not known, but when you get stressed, the muscles around the head and eyes tighten. Some combination of hormones, body heat and muscles is likely to cause the headaches. Though the name suggests that it is a headache caused due to tension/anxiety, the actual cause is stress or tightening of the head and neck muscles.
This of course can be caused due to the person going through an anxious or stressful time, but in addition, anything from wrong posture to food allergies can trigger an anxiety headache.
Anxiety Headaches: How Bad Is It?
Usually, anxiety or tension headaches go away on their own and are relatively easy to deal with compared to migraines and cluster headaches. However, the severity and duration can differ from person to person. When the headache occurs once in a while i.e. less than once a month it is called ‘infrequent episodic headache’. If it occurs two or three times per month but less than 15 times a month, it is categorized as ‘frequent episodic headache.’ If the pain occurs more than 15 times a month, the person is said to be suffering from tension-type chronic headaches, also called chronic daily headache.
Preventing Anxiety Headaches
The best way to deal with an anxiety headache is to find ways to prevent them in the first place. Here is what you can do:
- Keep A Diary: When you suffer from an anxiety headache, write down the possible factors that caused it.
Was it eye strain, a food allergy or a wrong posture? By avoiding these triggers, you can successfully reduce anxious episodes of headaches. - Reducing Stress: Constant stress causes tension around the muscles resulting in headaches. The person needs to identify the reason for the stress and find realistic ways to deal with it.
- Exercise: People who exercise regularly enjoy better health overall and are less prone to suffer from anxious headaches.
- Staying Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water is a good way to ward off headaches.
- Avoiding Certain Foods: Most people are aware of foods that do not suit their system. Many among these foods tend to trigger a headache, and hence are best avoided.
The National Headache Institute with its advanced treatment options and expert team of doctors can effectively help you deal with headache issues. Through personalized counseling and detailed diagnosis, you can rest assured that our treatment will help you get rid of anxiety headaches. Call us today or use our contact form to book a consultation.
