Stress headache is a kind of ordinary headache. More than half of the world's population periodically experiences it. This condition is often considered as the main disease. The reason for its appearance in this case is frequent overwork, severe stress, fatigue, chronic lack of sleep, and depressive states. The headache itself can be primary, arising against the background of the above reasons, or secondary, accompanying any disease, mainly the brain. It can also occur in a completely healthy person after a hard working day, at the time of intense mental stress, frustration, against the background of hunger, living in areas with a polluted atmosphere, and being outdoors for a long time in cold weather without a hat.
A tension headache has the following features: it begins, as a rule, with a slight aching pain in the temples (most often immediately on both sides), can gradually intensify or, conversely, practically subside. It is not accompanied by a pulsation in the temples, does not increase at the time of physical exertion, does not disappear at the time of sleep or immediately after rest, is not accompanied by nausea or vomiting. However, intolerance to loud sounds or bright light may occur against its background.
A tension headache can last from several hours to seven days or more. Some people experience a minor headache constantly, taking it for a manifestation of fatigue, lack of sleep, stress. However, this condition is not normal for the human body, requires diagnosis and treatment.
Depending on the time and strength of the manifestation, such a headache can have a mild, moderate and severe degree. A mild tension headache is spoken of if this symptom bothers a person no more than twice a week, disappears without a trace after taking the drug or a good rest. You can get rid of the disease without taking special medications. To do this, you must follow certain rules of behavior in everyday life: sleep at least 8 hours, eat right, drink as much fluid as possible per day, exclude spicy foods, caffeinated drinks and alcohol from the diet, walk more, spend less time at the computer and in front of the TV .
Medium tension headache is treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. For example, funds "Aspirin", "Diclofenac", "Ibuprofen." Paracetamol is a great help for some patients. It is not worth to abuse such drugs, since each of them has side effects, and if this dose is exceeded, it can lead to undesirable consequences for the body. In addition, their constant use leads to addiction, as a result, the body simply ceases to adequately respond to them.
Some effective traditional medicine help relieve headaches. In particular, the use of decoctions of herbs such as oregano, peppermint, lemon balm, infusions of elderberry flowers, Valerian leaves , and elecampane root.
Frequent and severe headaches require complex treatment aimed at combating stress and eliminating the possible causes of their occurrence. In this case, sedatives (Xanax) and stronger antidepressants (Amitriptyline), painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed as the main drugs. The course of treatment is quite long, lasts for 2 months or more.
If this symptom recurs, after some time after treatment, you should also contact a neurologist, because before you relieve a headache, you must determine the cause of its origin, and only a specialist can do it correctly.