Headache
Certain individuals may suffer from chronic headaches because of underlying health issues that affect their hormone levels. Stress manifests itself physically as well as psychologically. In addition to causing or exacerbating preexisting headache disorders, stress is a key headache trigger. Persistent headaches may develop from shorter attacks called “episodes,” and stress is a common factor in this process. Although the specific mechanisms through which stress impacts headache health are unknown, it is believed that the stress hormone cortisol has a role.
In response to stress, the adrenal glands (small glands located above each kidney) secrete the hormone cortisol. Some of the ways in which cortisol affects the body include a speeding up of the heart rate and an elevation of blood sugar levels. Reducing serotonin synthesis is one of the effects of cortisol since the two are inversely related. Through a series of complicated interactions with the neurological system, cortisol can cause headaches. Overproduction of cortisol has also been linked to headaches and the atrophy of brain regions like the hippocampus.
