Tension-type headache, its relation to stress, and how to relieve it by cryotherapy among academic students

Abstract

Background: Tension-type headache and stress are common students’ problems suffering. Alternative and complementary medicine, as cryotherapy, is effective for relieving physical and psychological pain; using ice compresses by placing it at the back of the neck, leads to relief of tension and anxiety, and gives feeling of relaxation and full of energy for doing daily life activities. The findings from this study will provide the basis for the formulation of future research questions that can explore the effect of cryotherapy for treatment of many psychological problems, specifically, researches that consider the role of cryotherapy for treatment of physical and psychological problems. Aim of the study: This study aimed to assess tension-type headache, its relation to stress, and how to relieve it by cryotherapy, among academic students. Results: Results revealed that there is an association between stress and tension-type headache, as the level of stress increased, the occurrence of tension-type headache increased. Conclusion: Academic students experience stress appearing as physical and psychological symptoms that affect their daily life activities. There is a significant relationship between level of stress and TTH, with diurnal pattern, location, severity, and duration of TTH. After applying cryotherapy (ice compresses) in relieving TTH, students feel analgesia, relaxation, increased effort, and alertness, added to that decreased mental tension and recurrence of headache to a minimum level.