Yes, Stress Can Cause Headaches or Migraine Attacks: What to Know

Stress may trigger tension-type headaches or migraine attacks, research shows. To keep the pain at bay, treatments, like ibuprofen, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness or relaxation practices, may help.
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, which may feel like a tight band around the head or aching on both sides of it. They’re also sometimes called muscle contraction or stress headaches since they’re commonly caused by stress or muscle tension.
This condition tends to recur repeatedly over time. If you’re among those who regularly experience stress headaches, here’s what to know about how to live pain-free.

Causes of stress headaches
Experts theorize tension-type or stress headaches occur due toTrusted Source factors like:
• stress
• repetitive muscle contractions
• other autonomic nervous system dysfunction, especially due to lack of sleep
• anxiety
• depression
• head injuries

Symptoms of a stress headache
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)Trusted Source, symptoms of a stress or tension headache may include:
• dull, pressure-type pain
• a feeling of tightness around the head
• pain that’s worse in the temples, scalp, or back of the neck
• pain in the shoulders
• all-over pain
• difficulty sleeping

The pain could happen just once, for a prolonged period, or even daily.
Stress headaches vs. migraine episodes
Tension headaches typically don’t cause any nausea or vomiting. If you experience stomach issues alongside your head pain, you may instead have a migraine.

Stress is also the most commonly reportedTrusted Source migraine trigger. Although experts don’t know for sure if stress directly causes migraine episodes, the conditions appear to be interrelated. Symptoms of migraine includeTrusted Source:
• throbbing, pounding, or pulsing pain
• pain that’s worse on one side of the head
• pain behind the eye or in the back of the neck and head
• vision issues
• tunnel vision
• eye pain
• nausea or vomiting
• yawning
• difficulty concentrating
• fatigue
• numbness
• tingling

How do you get rid of a stress headache?
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)Trusted Source, treatments for headaches, including stress headaches, may include:
• acupuncture
• biofeedback therapy
• dietary supplements, like magnesium or B complex vitamins
• over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, like muscle relaxers, aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and caffeine
Learn more about natural ways to combat headaches, including:
• drinking water
• getting enough sleep
• avoiding foods with high histamine, such as aged cheeses, and cured meat
• using essential oils
• using a cool compress
• drinking caffeinated tea or coffee
• doing yoga
• avoiding strong smells
• avoiding nitrates and nitrites
• maintaining a healthy exercise routine