ABSTRACT

The purpose of this project is to discuss stress as it relates to head pain, more specifically tension-type headaches (TTH) and migraines brought on by stress levels in individuals. Often a connection is made between stress and its psychological effects on an individual, but there are also the physical aspects of being stressed and its effects relating to head pain. There are a variety of reasons for an individual to be experiencing stress in their daily lives. The pain associated with tension-type headaches and migraines are among the types of headaches that can be triggered by such stress. Each has its own characteristics for how pain is localized and manifested in individuals experiencing different stress levels in their daily lives. Various interventions are used to treat tension-type headaches as well as migraines, such as both pharmacological medications including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and non-pharmacological therapeutic ways to relieve head pain.