How Do You Treat a Stress Headache?

Do you suffer from headaches brought about by stress? Most people describe stress headaches as feeling like a tight band around their heads.

The causes of stress headaches vary and are affected by many different factors, not all of which are completely understood. After all, everyone deals with some sort of stress, but not everyone gets headaches.

Let’s talk about some of the ways in which you can treat a stress headache, and where you can go in Southeast Michigan for medical treatment that can help you achieve long-term headache relief.

Stress Headache Treatments

Here are some stress headache treatment methods which may help to ease your pain:

Change Your Lifestyle

It helps to have a consistent sleep schedule to ensure you get adequate rest, which your brain needs. Sleep isn’t mainly to allow your muscles to rest, it’s rather to enable your brain to rest and recharge for the next day. Your muscles also get the benefit of taking a break!

You’re likely not drinking enough water. If you don’t like the taste of water, put a flavor additive to make it taste good to you.

You’re also likely to be low in your consumption of sufficient amounts of riboflavin, or vitamin B-2. Sources of this important brain nutrient are the usual suspects: meat, eggs, green vegetables, fortified cereals, and milk.

Regular exercise aids in the proper flow of chemicals and hormones in our systems, making your body feel better naturally. Start an exercise routine slowly, such as walking or biking, and enjoy whatever exercise you do. You will be surprised that your stress headaches will begin to gradually subside – and be patient in the process.

Take Prescribed or Over-the-Counter Medicine

Your neurologist may give you a prescription medicine to take in order to prevent or to address stress headaches. The medicine may actually minimize your body’s response to stress itself and make you feel calmer, rather than being a pain treatment per se. Your doctor may recommend taking over-the-counter pain medicine or headache medicine for occasional headaches, depending on the frequency of your headaches.

Modify Your Posture

Proper posture may help to relieve the tense muscles in your head and neck area. Try using pillows to support your lower back when sitting in order to promote keeping your spine straight.

While sitting, make sure your head is not tilted forward, and keep your thighs parallel to the floor. When you are standing, hold your shoulders back, and keep your head up as much as possible.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Deep breathing is an effective relaxation method to reduce stress and anxiety that may cause headaches. This healthy coping mechanism will help your body respond better to stress and prevent headaches.

Stress Headache Treatment in Southeast Michigan

If you need stress headache treatment, the Associates in Neurology are here to help. We have highly skilled and experienced doctors who can help you mitigate the effects of your stress headaches so they no longer have control over your life.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our outstanding neurologists, call our office today at (248) 478-5512 or request an appointment online. We have convenient locations in Farmington Hills, Novi, Southfield, Howell, and Brighton, and we look forward to helping you live a pain-free life!