It’s no wonder: Headaches are among the most common health complaints and if they’re chronic and frequent, they can be really disruptive to your life. Those headaches that you just can’t shake aren’t merely a nuisance — they can make it more difficult to work, attend to relationships and even lead to mental health issues. If you are having headaches and dealing with constant chronic headache pain, one of the most important things to determine is the cause of your headaches. Some headaches are associated with stress or dehydration, but if you have head pain often, this could indicate systemic reasons. Yes, okay. If you’re pulling those babies out now and then, they’re probably not hurting anyone. Still, if your little buddies are a regular bathroom companion hogging up more than their fair share of the counter space in your medicine cabinet it’s probably time to make an appointment with some kind of healthcare professional who can figure out what exactly it is that is causing your symptoms and maybe suggest some therapy or medication options or whatever has been most helpful for you.
What Are Chronic Headaches?
Chronic headache is classified as when you have a headache (15) or more days per month for at least 3 months in a row. They may be mild or severe, and they may come and go (episodic), such as with tension headaches, while others are chronic like for example migraines. I realise symptoms vary, but all I’ve ever known is frequency – chronic headache permeates every fixture in your life rather than just the occasional broken light fitting.
Common Causes of Chronic Headaches
Stress and Muscle Tension
One of the most common reasons for getting headaches is due to stress. Tension tenses up muscles in your neck, shoulders and the scalp, causing tension headaches. These headaches are often experienced as a headband of pressure. Over time, the symptoms can be increased in frequency or severity.
Migraines
Migraines remain a top contributor for chronic headaches and other symptoms like nausea as well, sensitivity to light or visual anomalies, commonly called auras. The causes of a chronic severe migraine can be varied, but hormonal changes, sleep deprivation and some foods are frequent contributors.
Sleep Problems
Some people get chronic headaches because of a bad quality of sleep or conditions such as sleep apnea. Without enough down time, your body never fully heals and you are more likely to experience the return of pain.
Hormonal Changes
Another thing to think about is hormones. In particular, it applies to women who are cycling, who are pregnant, or who are post-menopausal, although headaches that women experience are often thought of as hormonal headaches, fathers can experience them too if they have low or irregular hormone levels.
Diet and dehydration
Headache triggers: Some specific food and drink may be linked to headaches. Caffeine, alcohol, eating processed foods and ingesting artificial sweeteners are all suspects. Dehydration is another common culprit, as even a slight one can leave you nursing a pounding headache.
Environmental Factors
So can bright lights, loud noises, strong smells or changing weather — triggers for people sensitive to headaches. Spending so much time staring at screens is also thought to play a role, particularly if that time is accompanied by less-than-ideal posture.
Medical Conditions
Other medical conditions can cause chronic headaches, including high blood pressure, sinus infection and neurological problems. And that is also why you shouldn’t dismiss lingering pain because what you may be calling “just a headache” could, in fact, be more than that.
When to get medical attention for chronic headache?
If you have greater than 15 days a month in headaches, or, if you have headaches that you feel are disabling and interfering with your life, you should not hesitate to ask for help. Triggers can be determined from a full history and physical exam and sometimes with the aid of imaging studies. Treatment may consist of medication along with lifestyle changes, and you may also receive occipital neuralgia treatment with physical therapy and nerve stimulation.
Tips for Managing Chronic Headaches
Of course, you should get care from a physician, but there are things you can do at home that will help to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches when they do occur. Eating well-balanced meals and staying hydrated, stress management activities like yoga or meditation as well as when possible, keeping a regular sleep schedule, can help.” It probably helps, too, to avoid what you know tends to bring them on — for example, skip meals or drink a lot of caffeine.
Why Professional Help Matters
The possible causes of chronic headaches are numerous and can overlap one another; the best route to long-term relief is through the intervention of a professional. [If you have] frequent headaches, [then] get evaluated by a headache specialist or neurologist to find out what your personal triggers are and how best to manage them. You don’t have to tough it out with lingering headaches or rely exclusively on over-the-counter pain relief, but that’s not getting at the root of your problems.
Conclusion
The causes of daily headaches or chronic tension can be stress, migraines, sleep problems, hormones, diet and environment. Lifestyle shifts can be a big help, but the most effective thing you can do to alleviate chronic headaches is to go see your doctor and find out what exactly is causing your chronic headaches and what you can personally do about it. Don’t suffer from chronic headaches. Book with a practitioner now, and take the first step to not just relief, but a lasting solution for your headaches.
