A Guide to Stress-Induced Chronic Headaches

How can liver qi stagnation from the Donguibogam be explained in modern medicine? Stress exerts a complex influence on our bodies, acting through the brain and nervous system as a core factor that induces chronic headaches. When we experience stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the brain is activated, releasing stress hormones such as cortisol. While essential for short-term stress responses, chronic stress causes hyperactivation of this system, disrupting the balance of brain neurotransmitters and triggering inflammatory reactions. In particular, tension headache occurs when the muscles around the neck and shoulders persistently tense and contract due to stress. It is especially common among modern people who maintain poor posture while using computers or smartphones for extended periods. Stiff muscles impede blood circulation and compress adjacent nerves, leading to headaches. Migraine is also deeply linked to stress. Stress is recognized as one of the potent triggers that provoke migraines, affecting the brain's pain modulatory system to induce abnormal changes in the contraction and relaxation of cerebral blood vessels while promoting the secretion of inflammatory substances. Additionally, stress can lead to an imbalance in neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA, lowering the brain's pain threshold. Consequently, one can easily perceive pain even from minor stimuli that would normally be ignored. Furthermore, the connection between gut health and brain health, known as the gut-brain axis, also influences headaches. Stress disrupts the balance of the gut microbiota to cause intestinal inflammation, and these inflammatory signals are transmitted to the brain, which can worsen headaches. Rather than simple head pain, it can be understood as pain created by the combined stress response of the entire body. This is why treating headaches requires a multifaceted approach beyond merely taking an analgesic.