Why does stress cause headaches?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Muscles tense around skull
Blood pressure drops suddenly — Wrong. Stress typically raises blood pressure temporarily. Stress headaches come from muscle tension, not blood pressure drops.
Muscles tense around skull ✓ — Correct! Stress triggers muscle tension—especially in neck, shoulders, jaw, and scalp muscles. These contracted muscles restrict blood flow and trigger pain receptors. This creates tension headaches (feels like a tight band around head). Stress also releases cortisol, which amplifies pain perception. Physical tension = headache!
Hormones block pain signals — Wrong. Stress hormones like cortisol actually increase pain sensitivity, not block it. Headaches come from muscle tension.
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