Daily Headaches And How To Prevent Them

Overview 

Any headache that prolongs for 15 or more days per month and lasts for three months or more is considered a chronic daily headache. A chronic daily headache is a primary headache condition, meaning it does not arise due to another illness. Chronic daily headaches can affect people of any age.

Risk factors for chronic everyday headaches include,

• Obesity
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Sleep apnea
• Fibromyalgia
• Persistent back pain.

Contacting a primary healthcare practitioner is necessary when you experience frequent headaches and when the patient believes the symptoms may be the beginning stage of a chronic daily headache.

Keep a journal or track of the headaches to get a fair picture of how frequently they occur. Most people occasionally have headaches. 

Chronic daily headaches include several distinct headache subtypes rather than a single headache type. This describes both the frequency and duration of the headaches.

Chronic daily headaches are among the most painful headache syndromes due to their recurrent frequency. Strong initial treatment and stable, long-term maintenance reduce the headache frequency.

Types of daily headaches 

Chronic everyday headaches can be either brief or long-lasting. Headache attacks may last for more than four hours if they are long-lasting.

They include,

• Chronic migraine
• Chronic tension-type headache
• New daily persistent headache
• Hemicrania continua

People experiencing episodic migraines frequently develop this type. Chronic migraines usually affect either one or both sides of the head, have a throbbing, pulsing sensation and cause moderate to severe pain.

They produce at least one of the following effects: 

• Vomiting, nausea or both 
• Hypersensitivity to light and sound.

• Chronic tension-type headache

These headaches usually affect both sides of the head, resulting in mild to moderate pain and causing tightening and pressuring pain which isn’t pulsating.

• New daily persistent headache

These headaches often strike those who have never previously experienced them suddenly. Within three days following the initial headache, they start to become regular. 

The new daily persistent headache usually affects both sides of the head, causes discomfort that doesn’t pulse but feels like it’s pressing or tightening and causes mild to moderate pain. This type of headache manifests symptoms similar to chronic migraine or chronic tension-type headaches.

• Hemicrania continua

These migraines mostly impact one side of the head. They are constant and occur daily, with no pain-free times.

Hemicrania continua causes mild to moderate discomfort with intense pain bursts. The pain responds to indomethacin, a pharmaceutical painkiller (Indocin). When migraine-like symptoms arise, they can become severe.

Hemicrania continua headaches are additionally connected to at least one of the following:

• On the affected side, there may be eyelid tearing or redness
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Eyelid drooping or dilated pupils
• Restlessness sensation.

Causes of daily headaches 

Doctors are still unsure of the exact cause of chronic headache symptoms. One or more of the following are some causes.

• Activation of the trigeminal nerve – Trigeminal nerve is a significant nerve in our face and head. Sending sensory data to the brain from the various tissues and structures in these areas is one of its functions. The signs of numerous forms of headaches can result from the activation of this nerve.

• Hormones – Some types of headaches are triggered by changes in hormone levels, particularly those of oestrogen. For instance, naturally occurring changes in oestrogen levels contribute to the higher prevalence of migraine in women.

• Muscle tension – The head and neck muscles can become tense and cause pain, which can result in headaches.

• Heredity – Although more research is required, scientists think that heredity may affect the risk of developing certain headache types, including migraine.

Conditions that could cause headaches include: 

• Brain tumour
• High or low levels of ICP
• Excessive use of painkillers
• Traumatic brain injury
• Inflammation of the blood arteries in and around the brain or experiencing various issues.
• Strokes are caused when the brain’s blood arteries get blocked, and a reduced amount of blood flows to the brain.
• Infections, such as meningitis.

Symptoms of daily headaches 

Depending on the type of headache, there might be several symptoms. 

Among them are pain on one or both sides of the head that feels like a pulsating or throbbing sensation. The intensity of the pain could range from mild to severe.

Additional symptoms include

• Sweating
• A runny or congested nose
• Vomiting or nausea
• Agitation
• Restlessness
• Lightheadedness.
• Sensitivity to smell, sounds and lighting
• Redness of the eyes

Prevention of daily headaches 

Although the exact source of these headaches is unknown, research indicates that there are several things one may do to help prevent them—or at the very least, minimise their severity.

• Stay away from headache triggers – Keep a record of the items that cause headaches, such as the foods a person consumes, the things they do and the surroundings. One can try to prevent the headache triggers if one can identify them.

• Avoid skipping meals – Eat nutritious meals and avoid anything that seems to give you a headache. If the patient is overweight, losing weight is an option.

• Exercise frequently – An individual’s physical, mental and emotional health can benefit from exercising, which can also reduce stress. Choose enjoyable hobbies like cycling or walking with the approval of a doctor.

• Avoid drug overuse – Taking painkillers more than twice a week can make headaches more frequent and more severe. A doctor should be consulted about gradually reducing the medicine intake if a person has been taking it for a while. Some medications cannot be stopped all of a sudden.

• Reduce stress – A common cause of chronic headaches is stress. Consider practising stress-relieving exercises like yoga, tai chi or meditation.

• Have adequate sleep – Adults usually require seven to eight hours of sleep per night. It’s best to maintain a consistent bedtime and wake-up time each day. Consult a doctor if there are any difficulties falling asleep.

• Reduce caffeine intake – Caffeine is a component of certain headache treatments as it can assist in reducing headache discomfort. But it can also make headaches worse. Reduce or stop consuming caffeine.

Diagnosis of daily headaches 

A doctor will question the patient’s headache history while checking for symptoms of disease, infection or neurological issues.

A medical professional may prescribe imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI, to look for an underlying medical disease if the origin of the headaches is still unknown.

Treatment of daily headaches 

• Antidepressants – Chronic headaches may benefit from treatment with tricyclic antidepressants, such as nortriptyline. In addition to treating chronic daily headaches, these drugs can also aid with depression, anxiety and sleep issues.

Other antidepressants, such as fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), may be helpful in treating anxiety and depression, but they have not been shown to be more helpful than a placebo in relieving headaches.

• NSAIDs – For a person detoxing from other painkillers, prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines like naproxen sodium may be helpful. When the headache is more severe, it can also be used on a regular basis.

• Anti-seizure medications – Some anti-seizure medications appear to prevent migraines and may also be used to stop chronic daily headaches. There are topiramate, divalproex sodium and gabapentin as alternatives.

• Beta-blockers – These medications, which are frequently prescribed to manage high blood pressure, are a staple for avoiding episodic migraines. These include propranolol, metoprolol and atenolol.

• Botulinum toxin – Some people get relief from onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections, which may be a good alternative for those who have trouble tolerating regular medicine. If the headaches reflect characteristics of chronic migraines, botox is helpful.

• Acupuncture, massage, biofeedback, herbs, coenzyme Q10 supplements, vitamins and minerals, and electrical stimulation of the occipital nerve are alternative treatments.

However, it is recommended to consult your physician before taking any medications.

When to see a doctor? 

Occasional headaches don’t require medical care. However, one must see a physician if the patient.

• Has two or more headaches a week on a regular basis.
• Takes a painkiller for headaches most days.
• Needs to use high dose over-the-counter medication than what is advised to treat headache pain.
• Notices alterations in the pattern of the headaches or worsening headaches.
• Is unable to function due to headaches.

Visit a doctor if the headache involves any of the following,

• Sudden and severe
• It occurs after a head injury.
• Have symptoms such as a fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, double vision, weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking.
• Worsens after taking a break and a painkiller.

Conclusion 

Any headache that persists for 15 or more days per month is referred to as a chronic daily headache (CDH). It could be either primary or secondary (due to an underlying disorder). 

Based on the length of individual episodes, CDH is further divided into short duration (4 hours) and long duration (>4 hours). The key to treating these chronic headaches is to take preventive measures before they start.

Preventive treatment usually involves taking daily medicine whether or not an individual is experiencing a headache at the time. The goal is to reduce the burden of the headache.

FAQs