“Headaches Linked to Anxiety”
Today we are faced with a multitude of anxiety triggering situations, from the COVID -19 pandemic to the lockdown of entire countries to racial protests and domestic terrorism. Little wonder we have frequent headaches. Anxiety and headaches are both common, and many people experience them from time to time. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than 40 million adults in the United States have an anxiety disorder. People with anxiety disorders may have symptoms that interfere with their sleep, relationships, physical health, work or school activities, and everyday life. Scientists are exploring the link between anxiety and headaches. The American Migraine Foundation has reported that 20% of people with episodic migraine and 30–50% of those with chronic migraine have anxiety. A 2016 study found that children with anxiety were likely to have more headaches than children without anxiety. The researchers also concluded that anxiety symptoms were more severe among the children who experienced headaches. Along with the emotional symptoms of tension and dread, anxiety can cause physical symptoms, such as sweating, a rapid heartbeat, digestive problems, and headaches. Headaches can be both a symptom and a cause of anxiety. The most common form of headache is called a tension headache.
