The medical community has identified a set of well defined headache categories. The first category, that of the primary headache, is experienced by almost everyone throughout their lives. The primary headache is by far the most common kind of headache, and is by definition not life threatening, nor indicative of any kind of neurological problem. The cluster headache category causes far more pain and affects only a small segment of the population. Cluster headaches are so called because of the random groupings in which they occur. Patients can go without an attack for years at a time before suddenly experiencing a rash of cluster headaches. Secondary headaches are classified as symptoms of a deeper neurological issue, such as internal bleeding, tumor growth, or chemical imbalance in the brain. Cluster headaches and secondary headaches occur on a much less frequent basis than primary headaches.
The common stress headache falls into the primary category. Although not at all rare or life threatening, the stress headache can cause serious pain that is very discomforting. In some cases, the common stress headache can become quite uncomfortable. It is important that these cases be resolved as quickly as possible to avoid serious discomfort. The first step in headache treatment is understanding the cause of the problem. Stress headache is believed to actually originate from a tightness of the cranial muscles. The added pressure from this contraction introduces a painful and uncomfortable sensation. The problem does not occur in the brain, but in the muscles around the skull.
The tightening of the muscles around the skull can usually be identified as a band like feeling just above the eyes. This is the first sign of stress headache, and can be a good time to administer preventive measures like a dosage of Ibuprofen or Aleve. To actually prevent stress headache more effectively, the underlying causes should be examined. If stress headache occurs on a fairly regular basis, it can be assumed that daily emotional or physical stress is to blame. Stress management can be an important component of any treatment. Changes should be made to lifestyle choices that trigger stress headache, or manage them more effectively, and stress headache may be reduced. If pain persists in a chronic fashion, this may be a sign of another, more complex issue that should be treated by a specialist.
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