Chronic Workplace Stress Drives Headaches by Keeping Nervous System on 24/7 Alert
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 17
Chronic Workplace Stress Drives Headaches by Keeping Nervous System on 24/7 Alert
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 17
Chronic workplace stress can leave people "tired but wired," with the nervous system stuck in prolonged alertness that raises headache risk and makes pain harder to shut down.
Persistently elevated cortisol and adrenaline increase heart rate and muscle tension, lowering the brain's pain threshold and pushing the body into continuous fight-or-flight mode.
Migraines can become more frequent and severe under that sensitized state, while tension in the neck, shoulders and scalp—plus long hours sitting and concentrating—can trigger tension headaches later in the day.
Poor sleep and impaired concentration then reinforce the cycle: stress disrupts recovery, fatigue reduces resilience, and headaches further undermine focus, creativity and productivity.
The article says stress itself is not inherently harmful in short bursts, but small, consistent steps to help the body reset can reduce headache frequency and severity over time.
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