Tension headaches and stress

Many people find that food and drink high in caffeine can trigger a tension headache. Finding out what triggers your headaches can help you to avoid certain foods or drinks like coffee and chocolate.

Stress headaches can last from a few hours or several days; although the pain can be irritating and tiring it normally does not interrupt your sleep or daily activities, such as work. Tension headaches tend to start during the day or in the morning, and they commonly become worse throughout the day.

Symptoms of tension headaches include:

Tension headaches don’t tend to make people feel dizzy. However if you have a headache and feel dizzy this could be because you are experiencing a different type of headache. Visit our headache and migraine page to find out more.

Tension headaches do not usually require medical treatment, and you do not need to see your doctor if you only get occasional headaches. However you should visit your GP if you experience headaches several times a week and your pain is so severe that you cannot carry out daily tasks. They’ll be able to offer advice as well as investigate what is causing your headaches.

You can also use over the counter pain relief to ease the pain caused by tension headaches; these treatments include paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Remember to always read the label and follow the enclosed patient leaflet, this will inform you about dosages and guidelines you should follow. It is not recommended that you take stronger pain medication such as co-codamol, unless a doctor has told you too, as it can cause drowsiness or in some cases headaches.

Relaxation techniques can help to address the stress in your life that is leading you to stress headaches. Nowadays we are live very busy lives with work pressures, family demands and a whole host of other things.

We can feel like we are being pulled at from all angles, it can be difficult to take the time to look after yourself and have a break. In fact we can also feel guilty for taking the time to relax and unwind, however it is so important that we do, even snatching five minutes to sit outside can help to boost our moods.

Other relaxation tips include:

Discovering what exactly triggers your headaches can help you to have less or stop having them completely; lifestyle changes could perhaps cure your tension headaches. Writing a diary of your symptoms, the days and possible triggers can help you to map out exactly what you need to avoid and what simple lifestyle changes you can put in place.

For example if your headaches are brought on by hunger then remembering to eat regularly could help, perhaps when you’re really busy set an alarm on your phone to remind you.

Tension headaches are less common for people who look after their health, and well-being by:

Even the smallest steps to becoming healthier will help to prevent tension headaches from happening, even if this is simply parking the car further away in the car park, making sure you eat breakfast or taking time out at the end of the day to relax.

Lifestyle factors can play a part in how often we experience headaches as certain aspects of our lives can trigger tension headaches. For example your headaches may occur when you’re dehydrated, hungry or tired. Finding out what exactly is triggering is your tension headaches, and taking action to avoid these will help you to manage your headaches and hopefully reduce them.