What are the main types of chronic daily headaches. How can you identify and manage chronic headache triggers. When should you seek medical attention for persistent headaches. What lifestyle changes can help reduce the frequency and intensity of chronic headaches.

Understanding Chronic Daily Headaches: More Than Just a Nuisance

Experiencing headaches on a regular basis is not a normal part of life. If you find yourself dealing with headaches more often than not, you may be suffering from chronic daily headaches. This condition is defined as experiencing headaches for 15 or more days per month over a period of at least three months. While occasional headaches are common, chronic daily headaches can significantly impact your quality of life and may require medical attention.

The Four Main Types of Chronic Daily Headaches

Chronic daily headaches come in various forms, each with its own set of characteristics and symptoms. Understanding the differences between these types can help in proper diagnosis and treatment.

1. Chronic Migraine Headaches

Chronic migraines are characterized by:

• Throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head
• Moderate to severe intensity
• Potential nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound

These headaches can be particularly debilitating and may significantly interfere with daily activities.

2. Chronic Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are often described as:

• Affecting both sides of the head
• Producing mild to moderate pain
• Causing a sensation of pressure or tightness
• Not associated with throbbing pain

While generally less severe than migraines, chronic tension headaches can still be disruptive to daily life.

3. New Daily Persistent Headaches

This type of headache:

• Develops suddenly, often in people without a history of headaches
• Typically affects both sides of the head
• Causes mild to moderate pain with a pressing or tightening sensation

The sudden onset of these headaches can be particularly concerning for those experiencing them.

4. Hemicrania Continua

Hemicrania continua is characterized by:

• Continuous pain on one side of the head
• No pain-free periods
• Spikes of severe pain
• Response to the prescription drug Indocin
• Associated symptoms such as tearing or redness of the eye, nasal congestion, or eyelid drooping on the affected side

This type of headache is less common but can be particularly challenging to manage.

Unraveling the Mystery: Potential Causes of Chronic Headaches

The exact causes of chronic daily headaches remain somewhat elusive. However, several conditions have been associated with their occurrence:

• Blood vessel problems in and around the brain
• Strokes or reduced blood flow to the brain
• Infections, including meningitis
• Abnormal intracranial pressure (high or low)
• Brain tumors
• Traumatic brain injury
• Overuse of pain medication

Are certain individuals more prone to developing chronic daily headaches? While anyone can potentially experience this condition, factors such as genetics, underlying health conditions, and lifestyle choices may increase the risk. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine if any of these factors may be contributing to your headaches.

Effective Strategies for Managing Chronic Daily Headaches

While the underlying cause of chronic daily headaches may not always be clear, there are several strategies that can help manage and potentially reduce their frequency and intensity:

Identify and Avoid Triggers

Keeping a headache diary can help you track potential triggers. Common triggers may include:

• Certain foods or beverages
• Specific activities or environments
• Stress or emotional factors
• Sleep disturbances
• Hormonal changes

By identifying your personal triggers, you can take steps to avoid or minimize their impact.

Medication Management

Overuse of headache medication can paradoxically lead to more frequent and severe headaches. How can you break this cycle?

• Consult with your doctor about appropriate medication use
• Consider a gradual reduction in medication if overuse is suspected
• Explore alternative pain management strategies

Remember, abruptly stopping certain medications can be dangerous, so always consult with a healthcare professional before making changes to your medication regimen.

Lifestyle Modifications

Simple changes in your daily routine can have a significant impact on chronic headaches:

• Establish a consistent sleep schedule, aiming for 7-8 hours per night
• Maintain regular, healthy meals to stabilize blood sugar levels
• Engage in regular physical activity, with your doctor’s approval
• Practice stress-reduction techniques like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises
• Limit caffeine intake, as it can both help and hinder headache management

These lifestyle changes not only help manage headaches but also contribute to overall health and well-being.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Chronic Headaches

While many headaches can be managed at home, certain situations warrant medical attention. You should consult a doctor if you:

• Experience two or more headaches per week consistently
• Rely on pain relievers for headaches most days
• Need more than the recommended dose of over-the-counter pain medications
• Notice changes in your headache patterns or increasing severity
• Find that headaches are interfering with your daily activities

In some cases, immediate medical care is necessary. Seek emergency attention if your headache:

• Is sudden and severe, often described as a “thunderclap” headache
• Is accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, or vision changes
• Occurs after a head injury
• Worsens despite rest and pain medication
• Is associated with weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking

These symptoms could indicate a more serious underlying condition that requires prompt medical evaluation.

Innovative Approaches to Chronic Headache Management

As research in the field of headache medicine progresses, new and innovative approaches to managing chronic daily headaches are emerging. Some of these include:

Neurostimulation Techniques

Various forms of neurostimulation have shown promise in treating chronic headaches:

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• Occipital nerve stimulation
• Vagus nerve stimulation

These techniques aim to modulate pain signals in the brain and may offer relief for some patients who haven’t responded to traditional treatments.

Botulinum Toxin Injections

Botox injections, typically associated with cosmetic procedures, have been FDA-approved for chronic migraine treatment. How does this work?

• Small amounts of botulinum toxin are injected into specific head and neck muscles
• This may help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines
• Treatment is typically administered every 12 weeks

While not effective for everyone, some patients report significant improvement with this approach.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a form of psychotherapy that can be particularly helpful in managing chronic pain conditions, including headaches. It focuses on:

• Identifying and changing negative thought patterns
• Developing coping strategies for pain
• Reducing stress and anxiety associated with chronic headaches

This non-pharmacological approach can be an effective complement to other treatment strategies.

The Role of Diet in Chronic Headache Management

Diet can play a significant role in the frequency and intensity of chronic headaches. While individual triggers can vary, some general dietary guidelines may help reduce headache occurrences:

Potential Trigger Foods

Certain foods and additives have been associated with headache triggers in some individuals:

• Aged cheeses and processed meats (contain tyramine)
• Chocolate (contains caffeine and other compounds)
• Artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame)
• MSG (monosodium glutamate)
• Nitrates and nitrites (found in processed meats)

Keeping a food diary can help identify personal trigger foods.

Hydration

Proper hydration is crucial for headache prevention. Dehydration can trigger headaches or exacerbate existing ones. How much water should you drink?

• Aim for at least 8 glasses (64 ounces) of water per day
• Increase intake during hot weather or physical activity
• Consider electrolyte-balanced drinks for intense exercise or extreme heat

Remember, thirst is often a late sign of dehydration, so it’s important to drink water regularly throughout the day.

Regular Meal Timing

Skipping meals or experiencing significant drops in blood sugar can trigger headaches in some individuals. To maintain stable blood sugar levels:

• Eat regular, balanced meals
• Include protein and complex carbohydrates in each meal
• Consider healthy snacks between meals if needed

Consistency in meal timing can help stabilize blood sugar and potentially reduce headache frequency.

The Impact of Sleep on Chronic Headaches

The relationship between sleep and chronic headaches is complex and bidirectional. Poor sleep can trigger headaches, while headaches can disrupt sleep, creating a vicious cycle. How can you improve your sleep to potentially reduce headache frequency?

Sleep Hygiene

Good sleep hygiene practices can significantly improve sleep quality:

• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends
• Create a relaxing bedtime routine
• Ensure your sleeping environment is dark, quiet, and cool
• Limit screen time before bed
• Avoid caffeine and heavy meals close to bedtime

Implementing these practices can help regulate your sleep-wake cycle and potentially reduce headache frequency.

Sleep Disorders

Certain sleep disorders can increase the risk of chronic headaches. These include:

• Insomnia
• Sleep apnea
• Restless leg syndrome

If you suspect you may have a sleep disorder, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Sleep Duration

Both too little and too much sleep can trigger headaches in some individuals. What’s the ideal amount of sleep?

• Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night
• Individual needs may vary slightly
• Consistency is key – try to maintain the same sleep duration each night

Finding your optimal sleep duration and sticking to it can help regulate your body’s natural rhythms and potentially reduce headache frequency.

The Connection Between Stress and Chronic Headaches

Stress is a common trigger for many types of headaches, including chronic daily headaches. Understanding this connection and developing effective stress management strategies can be crucial in headache management.

The Stress-Headache Cycle

Stress can contribute to headaches in several ways:

• Triggering muscle tension, particularly in the neck and scalp
• Altering sleep patterns
• Changing eating habits
• Increasing sensitivity to pain

Moreover, the pain and discomfort of headaches can itself be a source of stress, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.

Stress Management Techniques

Incorporating stress reduction techniques into your daily routine can help break the stress-headache cycle:

• Mindfulness meditation
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Deep breathing exercises
• Regular physical exercise
• Time management and prioritization strategies

Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you.

Professional Support

In some cases, professional support may be beneficial in managing stress and its impact on chronic headaches:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Biofeedback training
• Stress management counseling

These approaches can provide tools and strategies to effectively manage stress and potentially reduce headache frequency.

Chronic daily headaches can significantly impact quality of life, but with proper management and care, many individuals find relief. By understanding the different types of chronic headaches, identifying personal triggers, implementing lifestyle changes, and seeking appropriate medical care when needed, it’s possible to reduce the frequency and intensity of these debilitating headaches. Remember, everyone’s experience with chronic headaches is unique, so what works for one person may not work for another. It’s important to work closely with healthcare providers to develop a personalized management plan that addresses your specific needs and circumstances.

Is It Normal To Get Headaches Everyday?

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May 16, 2022

No, it’s NOT normal to get headaches everyday

Most people have headaches from time to time. But if you have a headache more days than not, you might have chronic daily headaches, which come in many forms – most of them pretty disabling.

You may be suffering from chronic daily headaches if the headaches occur 15 days or more a month and you have experienced them for at least three months.

In general, there are four kinds of chronic daily headaches. They include:

• Chronic migraine headaches. These can affect one side or both sides of your head, have a throbbing sensation, and cause moderate-to-severe pain. They can also cause nausea, vomiting, or both. People tend to be sensitive to light and sound during these headaches.
• Chronic tension headaches. These tend to affect both sides of your head, cause mild-to-moderate pain, and produce a pain that feels like pressing or tightening but not throbbing.
• New daily persistent headaches. These occur suddenly, usually in people without a history of headaches. They often affect both sides of the head, cause pain that feels like pressing or tightening and produce mild-to-moderate pain.
• Hemicrania continua. These affect only one side of the head, are continuous with no pain-free periods, produce spikes of severe pain, respond to the prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug Indocin, and are associated with one or more of the following:
  • Tearing or redness of the eye on the affected side of the head.
  • Nasal congestion or a runny nose.
  • Drooping eyelid or narrowing pupil.
  • The sensation of restlessness.

What Causes Chronic Headaches?

No one really knows why some people suffer from this debilitating condition. Conditions that may cause it include:

• Inflammation or other problems with the blood vessels in and around the brain.
• Strokes, in which blood vessels in the brain a blocked, reducing blood flow to the brain.
• Infections, including meningitis.
• High or low intracranial pressure.
• Brain tumors.
• Traumatic brain injury.
• Overuse of pain medication.

While the cause of these headaches is unclear, research suggests that you can do some things to help prevent them – or at least reduce their intensity:

• Avoid headache triggers. Keep track of things that appear to result in headaches, including foods you eat, activities you are doing, and the environment in which the headaches occur. If you can identify your headache triggers, you can try to avoid them.
• Do not overuse medication. Using headache medications more than twice a week can increase the frequency and severity of headaches. If you have been taking medication for a long time, consult a doctor about weaning yourself off. Some medicines cannot be stopped cold turkey.
• Get a good night’s sleep. Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep a night. It’s best to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. If you have trouble sleeping, see a doctor.
• Don’t skip meals. Eat healthy meals and avoid food or beverages that seem to trigger headaches. Lose weight if you’re obese.
• Get regular exercise. Physical activity can improve your physical and mental well-being and reduce stress. With your doctor’s OK, choose activities you enjoy, like walking or cycling.
• Reduce stress. Stress is a common trigger of chronic headaches. Try stress-reduction techniques, like yoga, tai chi, or meditation.
• Cut back on caffeine. Some headache medications include caffeine because they can help to reduce headache pain. But it can also aggravate headaches. Try reducing or eliminating caffeine.

When Should You See A Doctor?

Occasional headaches usually require no special medical attention. However, you should consult a doctor if you:

• Consistently have two or more headaches a week.
• Take pain reliever for your headaches on most days.
• Need more than the recommended dose of over-the-counter medicines to relieve headache pain.
• Experience changes in the pattern of your headaches, or they get worse.
• Find the headaches are disabling.

Seek immediate medical care if your headache:

• Is sudden and severe.
• Is accompanied by a fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking.
• Occurs after a head injury.
• Gets worse after you rest and take pain medication.

Get The Care You Need 

If your chronic headache is sudden and severe and associated with one of the symptoms above, you should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention. If you suffer from more common chronic headaches, visit your doctor for advice. If you do not have a doctor, Grady can help. If you need a primary care physician, call us at (404) 616-1000 or make an appointment online. We’ll arrange an appointment at a Primary Care Center near you. Doctors there can treat most conditions and provide access to Grady’s unparalleled medical specialty expertise.

Related articles

Are Your Daily Headaches a Sign of Something More Serious?

Don’t fret just yet. The pounding pain in your head may be annoying, but it doesn’t necessarily indicate a bigger problem.

There it is again — the throbbing in your dome. If you’re bothered by frequent headaches, you may be concerned that you have a more serious condition, such as a brain tumor or an aneurysm. And while those and other dangerous conditions can be marked by headaches, it’s likely that your pain is primary. In other words: It’s probably not the result of another condition.

Unfortunately, doctors don’t know what causes most headaches. According to some estimates, only 10% of headaches have a known cause. But there are contributing factors that can trigger chronic headaches, such as:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Dehydration
• Hunger
• Lack of sleep
• Sensory triggers such as bright lights, loud noises and pungent smells
• Stress

Chronic headaches can also be linked to other disorders, including depression, anxiety, sinus infections, allergies and temporomandibular joint dysfunction, also known as TMJ. In order to figure out your headache pattern and identify your triggers, you may want to keep a headache diary to share with your doctor. The National Headache Foundation provides a handy template.

Here are a few common types of chronic headaches:

Tension headache

This is the most common type of headache and it’s likely that you’ve had more than one of these in your life. But for some people, they occur almost every day. Tension headaches affect both sides of your head with a pressing, moderate pain. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) often help, but taking them for long periods of time can lead to headaches called “medication overuse” or “rebound” headaches. Instead, you may want to try meditation, relaxation techniques or heat therapy.

Migraine

Migraines, although less common, are more severe. The pain is intense, may pulsate and can be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, vomiting or visual disturbances called “auras.” Often, migraines only affect one side of the head, although they can affect both. They also affect women more often than men. Prescription medications are available to treat migraines, but you also may benefit from simply resting in a quiet, dark room and using hot or cold compresses. Progressive symptoms of more severe or frequent headaches, or any headache that is also associated with other neurological symptoms, should be evaluated by a physician

Cluster headache

Men are more likely to have these more sudden headaches, which are often marked by pain on one side of the head, behind the eye. They tend to happen in clustered periods of time, even multiple times a day, then disappear for a while. Eyes tend to water, and a restless feeling is common. These headaches usually require prescription medicines.

New daily persistent headache (NDPH)

If you suddenly get frequent headaches, you may have NDPH. The symptoms of NDPH can mimic tension headaches or migraines, but NDPH occurs in people who don’t have a history of headaches. Often, people with NDPH can remember exactly when the onset happened. Your doctor may need to run tests to make sure these headaches aren’t secondary — that is, a symptom of a serious underlying condition.

Although daily headaches might not be the result of a dangerous problem, they can affect your quality of life and shouldn’t be considered “normal.”

“Progressive symptoms of more severe or frequent headaches, or any headache that is also associated with other neurological symptoms, should be evaluated by a physician,” says Jonathan J. Russin, MD, a neurosurgeon at Keck Medicine of USC and assistant professor of clinical neurological surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “Even using these criteria, the majority of headaches will not represent an underlying problem. An exception is a ‘thunderclap’ headache, which refers to the sudden onset of the worst headache of your life. This type of headache should always be evaluated by a physician whether it is associated with other symptoms or not.”

Topics

cluster headache

Dr. Jonathan J. Russin

headaches

migraine

tension headache

Tina Donvito

Tina Donvito is a freelance writer covering health, culture, travel and parenting.

HEADACHE – Hadassah Medical Moscow

Traditional migraine therapy consists of behavioral therapy, relief of an already developed attack and preventive treatment aimed at preventing attacks. Behavioral therapy, a necessary step in effective patient management, is carried out during a conversation with the patient and includes: explaining the benign nature of migraine, dissuading the presence of an organic disease, discussing the role of attack triggers and the need to avoid them, risk factors for migraine chronicity (taking a large number of painkillers, stress , psycho-emotional states), as well as the rationale for treatment tactics (mechanisms of action of prescribed drugs).

Treatment of a migraine attack is prescribed depending on its intensity and the degree of maladaptation of the patient. With infrequent attacks of mild or moderate intensity, simple or combined analgesics are indicated; with severe nausea and vomiting – antiemetics. With a high intensity of pain and significant maladaptation, triptans are prescribed.

New drug groups have been approved worldwide for the treatment of migraine attacks. This, in turn, enables doctors to treat their patients more effectively, and for patients to reduce the number of days with a headache, improve quality of life, sleep, mood and performance.

Lasmiditan is a selective serotonin 1F receptor agonist that does not have vasoconstrictive activity. The role of lasmiditan in clinical practice has not yet been determined, but it is probably best suited for patients with relative contraindications to triptans due to cardiovascular risk factors.

In October 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lasmiditan oral tablets for the treatment of acute migraine in adults. The drug is currently not registered in the Russian Federation.

CGRP antagonists (Rimegepant and Ubrogepant) Monoclonal antibodies directed against the CGRP receptor or ligand. These are oral options available for the acute treatment of migraine in patients with insufficient response or contraindications (eg coronary artery disease) to triptan treatment.

Ubrogepant received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of acute migraine in adults in December 2019year, and rimegepant received a similar FDA approval in February 2020. This group of drugs is not registered in the territory of the Russian Federation.

Preventive therapy is aimed at reducing the frequency, duration, intensity of attacks, the number of doses of painkillers and improving the quality of life of patients.

The main indications for course treatment: the frequency of days with GB > 4 per month, the lack of effectiveness of drugs for the relief of migraine attacks, the presence of risk factors for migraine chronicity (abuses, depression), prolonged aura (> 60 min). The duration of the course of treatment is from 3 to 12 months (an average of 4-6 months for episodic, 8-12 months for chronic migraine), then an attempt is made to gradually withdraw the drug (s) or reduce their dosage.

CGRP antagonists is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to and inhibits the calcitonin gene-related CGRP receptor (CGRP) and is a therapeutic target in migraine due to its putative role in mediating the transmission of trigeminovascular pain and the vasodilator component of neurogenic inflammation

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Large molecules in the form of monoclonal antibodies directed against the CGRP receptor or ligand are injected to prevent migraine. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the CGRP antagonist monoclonal antibodies erenumab, fremanezumab, and galcanezumab in 2018 and eptinezumab in 2020 for the preventive treatment of migraine. In 2020, two drugs (erenumab, fremanezumab) were registered in the Russian Federation.

ᐈ Chronic headache ~【Causes and treatment in Kyiv】

According to WHO, about half of all people experience a headache once a year. It is good when a single attack either stops after a few minutes, or is quickly eliminated by taking a simple medicine. But sometimes pain begins to disturb regularly, while significantly reducing the quality of life and can cause disability. Chronic headache is a feeling of pain in the occipital, parietal, temporal part of the head, which manifests itself systematically and lasts at least two weeks.

If you experience these symptoms, you should take the problem seriously and immediately consult a doctor to find out the cause of your discomfort. The MEDIKOM clinic has a high-class diagnostic base that helps experienced specialists to absolutely accurately determine the sources of headache and select the optimal treatment method.

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Classification

More often people of working age from 18 to 65 complain of headaches. About a third of them report migraine attacks, and about 4% suffer from chronic headaches that last more than 14 days a month. Headache is becoming a problem for people in all countries regardless of age, occupation, income level and racial differences.

Headaches can be recurrent or chronic. Periodic pain, as a rule, occurs with a frequency of no more than 1-2 times a week, is of a general nature and disappears without medical attention. However, if headache attacks become more frequent, the intensity of the pain increases, and pain relief is required for its relief, you should consult your doctor.

Chronic (persistent) headaches are primary and secondary. The primary types of headache are divided into the following main groups:

• Migraine.
  Occurs on one side, can be severe or moderate, pulsating or constant. Often with minor physical stress provokes nausea and vomiting. The headache attack lasts from several hours to 3 days. May appear once a week or once a year. They are first observed in the puberty period, and by the age of 35 it reaches its peak. Women suffer from migraines twice as often as men.
• Chronic tension headache.
  The most common type of headache. There is a feeling of squeezing, as if wrapped in a tight bandage. The pain may radiate to the neck. A headache attack often lasts from several hours to several days. Chronic tension-type headache occurs in 1-3% of the adult population. Among patients – 60% of women and 40% of men. The onset of the disease most often occurs in adolescence. Chronic tension-type headache can last for a long time and, in comparison with intermittent headache, contribute more to a decrease in quality of life.
• Cluster.
  A rare type of primary persistent headache. They are observed in 0.1% of adults. Unlike other types of chronic headache, this pain is 6 times more likely to bother men. The disease is first diagnosed mainly at the age of over 20 years. This is a frequent headache in the form of short but very severe attacks, felt in the eye sockets (sometimes one-sided), accompanied by redness of the eyes, watery eyes, runny nose or nasal congestion from the pain localization. Sometimes there is drooping of the eyelids. Attacks of cluster pain can be both manifestations of chronic headache, and periodic.

The main types of secondary chronic headache:

• Abuse – a consequence of excessive intake of painkillers. This type of secondary chronic headache is the most common, affecting about 7% of the adult population, mostly women. The pain has a pressing character, lasts long enough and reaches its maximum intensity in the morning after waking up.
• Persistent headache caused by problems with cerebral circulation, including stroke.
• Chronic headache as a result of traumatic brain injury and various diseases: brain tumors, ENT pathologies, hypertension, infectious diseases, including meningitis.

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Etiology and pathogenesis

All people are familiar with episodic headache, even practically healthy ones. But for some people, the pain becomes intense, and attacks become more frequent. Frequent headaches should make you alert and see a doctor. Qualified medical care will allow you to establish the causes of chronic headache and choose an adequate treatment.

Very often causes of chronic headache are:

Unnatural and forced position of the head and neck, oxygen starvation, spasms of cerebral vessels can also cause chronic headaches.

Causes of secondary headache:

• mental disorders;
• injuries;
• infectious inflammations;
• vascular diseases;
• pathologies of the neck, spine, ENT organs, oral cavity;
• drug reaction.

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Headache is often a symptom of an incipient illness. For example, pain during conversation, chewing food, brushing teeth, which stop at rest, can be the cause of cranial nerve neuralgia.

The appearance of a headache in the back of the head with tinnitus, flickering in the eyes and nausea may indicate hypertension. A sharp intense headache often becomes a sign of an acute stroke. Spasmodic headaches are often caused by diseases of the ears, nose, or teeth. Severe, dull pain, especially in the back of the head and crown, can be caused by degenerative-dystrophic disease, pathologies of the spine.

Clinical manifestations, symptoms, signs of headache

Watch out for symptoms of chronic headaches. The intensity of pain, the frequency of seizures, concomitant effects, such as nausea, nasal congestion, tinnitus, etc., may indicate various diseases.

Manifestations of chronic headache, the symptoms of which indicate the development of various diseases:

• cerebral hemorrhages and brain tumors – pain occurs suddenly, sometimes accompanied by symptoms characteristic of meningitis;
• brain tumors, subdural hematoma or drug abuse – pain is prolonged, with an increase in intensity;
• meningitis, encephalitis, neuroborreliosis, systemic vasculitis – pain in combination with fever and skin rash, soreness of the occipital muscles, aggravated by movement;
• cerebral hemorrhage or brain tumor – the pain is due to coughing or physical effort.

All of the above symptoms of chronic headache require immediate investigation.

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Chronic Pregnancy Headaches

80% of pregnant women experience headaches. It can appear even in those who had no health problems before pregnancy. Most often appears in the first or third trimester of pregnancy and can be very strong.

If a woman had a migraine or chronic headache before pregnancy, the problem may develop into hypertension during pregnancy. And this is the risk of premature birth. Also during this period, a woman is more likely to develop preeclampsia, thrombosis of the cerebral arteries, compression of the brain, which are accompanied by a headache.

Pregnant women must be under mandatory medical supervision. The attending physician, if necessary, will refer you for diagnosis and treatment of chronic headache.

Factors contributing to frequent headaches during pregnancy:

• dehydration;
• stress:
• lack of fresh air;
• overweight;
• infectious and other diseases;
• changes in hormonal status;
• hunger resulting in a drop in glucose levels;
• hypotension or arterial hypertension;
• consumption of foods containing tyramine and phenylamine.

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If you notice signs of chronic headache during pregnancy, try to follow these simple rules:

• sleep in a dark, well-ventilated room;
• eat fractionally and enough to eliminate bouts of hunger;
• walk outdoors;
• take a break every half an hour during work;
• exercise, such as swimming.

Chronic headache in children

If a child under 6 points to the head, this does not always indicate pain. General malaise, dizziness, tinnitus and other sensations can cause anxiety. In this case, a consultation with a pediatric neurologist will help, who, knowing the characteristics of childhood, will help to establish the true cause of complaints.

In older children, there are 2 periods associated with an increase in headache complaints:

• 1st is 6–7 years old, when the child goes to school and his stress load increases;
• 2nd – 13-15 years old, during puberty.

In children, the vast majority of attacks (90%) of headaches are tension pain, and migraine is also diagnosed. Both types of pain are the result of hunger or dehydration, drinking caffeinated drinks, eating and sleeping disorders. These conditions are not life-threatening for the child, but they must be distinguished from conditions where the child needs emergency care.

Seek immediate medical attention if:

• the cause of pain is an injury;
• the child woke up in pain at night;
• in addition to pain, vomiting, pain and difficulty in moving in the neck, loss or visual impairment, impaired consciousness, uncertainty when walking, high temperature are noted.

Attention to the peculiarities of the child’s condition will help prevent the severe consequences of chronic headache.

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Headache First Aid

If you have a headache, take a pain reliever prescribed by your doctor.

To relieve pain, lie down in a darkened, quiet room, ask your loved ones not to disturb you and do everything to remove provoking factors. If the cause of the pain is vasospasm, you can take a warm shower. You can’t take a bath, a contrast shower is also contraindicated, it can cause vasospasm. If possible, you can do a light massage of the head and neck. On the day after the attack, do not overeat or drink alcohol.

Diagnosis of chronic headaches

The head can hurt for a variety of reasons, so different methods are used for diagnosis. Differential diagnosis of headache makes it possible to establish the causes of pain.

Examination begins with laboratory diagnostics, which includes a complete blood and urine test.

To determine the causes in the differential diagnosis of headache, the following tests are carried out:

• Ultrasound of neck vessels;
• CT;
• electroencephalography;
• in some cases MRI.

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Conducting a differential diagnosis of headache will allow you to establish an accurate diagnosis and choose the right tactics for treating the disease.

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Treatment of chronic headaches

The choice of treatment for chronic headaches depends on the cause of the pain. The doctor will prescribe therapy to eliminate the headache. The treatment method is chosen after a detailed study of the signs of chronic headache and the results of the examination. Therapy is selected individually, taking into account such factors:

• type of pain;
• disease severity;
• age and sex of the patient;
• health status and the presence of other diseases.

To relieve pain, the doctor will select analgesics and antispasmodics. Indicates in what doses drugs should be used, and also indicates the duration of treatment for chronic headaches.

If necessary, soothing, relaxing, anticonvulsant, vascular drugs, neuroprotectors will also be prescribed. Treatment of chronic headache with physiotherapy methods can be effective: electrophoresis, massage, procedures in water. Strict adherence to the doctor’s prescriptions will avoid the severe consequences of chronic headache.

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Prevention of headaches: tips and tricks

Prevention of headaches is a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition, sufficient physical activity, adequate sleep.

Following simple rules reduces the intensity of pain and the number of attacks:

• periodically take breaks from work, during which you can do simple exercises in the fresh air;
• drink enough water throughout the day;
• observe the diet, do not allow starvation and overeating;
• do not abuse coffee and alcohol;
• for eye diseases, wear glasses or lenses fitted by an ophthalmologist;
• treat diseases of the nose, if necessary, visit an ENT doctor;
• visit the dentist every six months;
• Take your medicines recommended by your doctor regularly.

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Q&A

What is tension headache?

Tension headache is a girdle headache, the sensation of a hoop being put on. The primary diagnosis of HDN is reduced to the exclusion of internal disorders: blockage of blood vessels, tumors and other brain diseases. Therefore, do not neglect the advice of a neurologist. In the treatment of tension headache, doctors take care of restoring the psycho-emotional state of a person and relieving the pain syndrome.

What will chronic headaches lead to?

Chronic headaches are often caused by poor sleep, long-term use of analgesics, or as a consequence of extra pounds. If headache attacks last continuously for more than 3 days in a row for more than 3 months, then they are chronic.

Which headache is especially dangerous?

Headache is dangerous if it occurs in the form of a backache, especially in children and people over 50 years of age. It is also dangerous when the duration of pain is more than 3 days in a row, it increases intensively for a short time, and the frequency of attacks or the strength of tension increases, squeezing occurs. The manifestation of headache in patients with HIV, oncology, etc. is unsafe. It is worth being careful, paying attention if the headache intensifies with physical exertion, sudden movements.

Do I have to endure a headache?

Headache is not recommended, regardless of its duration. However, do not overuse medication. If headache symptoms recur frequently, it is worth consulting with your doctor to determine the causes and select a possible treatment.

Why doesn’t my headache go away?

Headaches will not go away if the causes of their occurrence are not eliminated: high blood pressure, vascular obstruction, tumor, etc. Headache diagnosis includes examination of the brain using MRI, CT, vascular ultrasound, general blood tests, blood pressure measurement .

How to relieve pain from chronic headache?

You can get rid of a headache attack with the help of painkillers. Antispasmodics help relieve spasm. A therapist or family doctor will help you choose specific medications based on the diagnosis.

Vidkriti
Zgornuti

The article is for informational purposes only. Please remember: self-medication can harm your health.

Sources

• Ukrainian Wikipedia
• Medscape

Vidkriti
Zgornuti

The author of the article:

Gancheva Elena Anatolyevna

Therapist of the highest category, gastroenterologist of the second category

Expert in the direction:

Ovchinnikova Natalia Nikolaevna

Head of the consultative, diagnostic and therapeutic department of the hospital, general practitioner of the highest category

Which doctor treats headaches?

Our MEDICOM clinic employs experienced specialists of all profiles who will carry out all the necessary examinations. Treatment should begin with a visit to a general practitioner (family doctor). After a detailed diagnosis, the doctor will recommend a narrow specialist. It can be a neurologist, an ENT doctor, an ophthalmologist, etc.