Stress is the most common trigger of headaches. In our busy, fast-paced world it is hard to slow down and take time to relax. Chronic stress can lead to numerous health implications, but tension headaches are one of the first symptoms to appear.
Tension headaches are usually associated with tight muscles of the neck, shoulders, and upper back. These headaches cause pressure and aching pain at your temples or the back of your head and neck. Often these headaches get worse towards the end of the day as the stress builds.
Most people try to treat their tension headaches with pain relievers like acetaminophen or aspirin. Regularly taking these pain relievers may lead to rebound headaches. A rebound headache occurs once pain medication has worn off, prompting a person to take another dose. This can lead to a cycle of more frequent headaches and taking higher doses of medication more often until a person builds up a tolerance. At that point, the person cannot stop taking the pain relievers without having a headache.
