Description

Most people have headaches from time to time. But if you have a headache more days, you may have headaches, chronic daily.

In place of a type of headache, headaches, chronic daily, which include a variety of headache subtypes. The chronicle refers to the frequency of the headaches occur and how long the condition lasts.

The constant nature of chronic daily headaches makes them one of the most disabling headache conditions. Aggressive initial treatment and steady, long-term administration can reduce the pain and reduce the number of headaches.

Symptoms

By definition, chronic daily headaches occur 15 or more days per month for more than three months. True (primary) chronic daily headaches are not caused by another condition.

There are short-term and long-term chronic daily headaches. The long duration of the headaches lasting more than four hours. They include:

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

Chronic migraine

This type usually occurs in people with a history of migraine episodes. Chronic migraines tend to:

  • It affects one or both sides of your head
  • It has a vibrant, throbbing sensation
  • Causes moderate to severe pain

And cause at least one of the following:

  • Nausea, vomiting, or both
  • Sensitivity to light and sound

Chronic tension-type headache

These headaches tend to:

  • Affect both sides of your head
  • The cause of mild to moderate pain
  • Cause pain that is felt down or tightening, but not pulsating

New daily persistent headache.

These headaches come on suddenly, usually in people without a history of headaches. They become constant within three days of your first headache. Them:

  • They often affect both sides of your head
  • Cause pain that feels like pressure or squeezing, but not pulsating
  • The cause of mild to moderate pain
  • You could have the characteristics of chronic migraine or chronic tension-type headache

Hemicrania continua

These headaches:

  • Affect only one side of your head
  • Are daily and continuous, without pain-free periods
  • Cause moderate pain with peaks of severe pain
  • Respond to the recipe to relieve the pain, indomethacin (Indocin)
  • You can become severe with the development of migraine headaches, and the symptoms

In addition, hemicrania continua headaches associated with at least one of the following:

  • Tearing or redness of the eye on the affected side
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose
  • Drooping eyelid or narrowing of the pupil
  • Feelings of restlessness

When to see a doctor

Occasional headaches are common, and usually do not require medical attention. However, consult your doctor if:

  • Usually have two or more headaches a week
  • Taking a painkiller for headaches most days
  • You need more than the recommended dose of over-the-counter pain remedies to relieve your headaches
  • Your headache changes in the pattern or your headaches get worse
  • Your headaches are disabling

Seek immediate medical attention if your headache:

  • It is sudden and severe
  • It is accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, double vision, weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking
  • Following a head injury
  • Gets worse despite rest and medication for the pain

Causes

The cause of many headaches chronic daily are not well understood. True (primary) chronic daily headaches do not have an identification of the underlying cause.

Conditions that may cause non-primary chronic daily headaches include:

  • The inflammation or other problems with the blood vessels in and around the brain, including stroke
  • Infections such as meningitis
  • Intracranial pressure that is too high or too low
  • Brain Tumor
  • Traumatic brain injury

Medication overuse headache

This type of headache usually develops in people who have one episode of headache disorder, usually migraine or tension-type, and taking too much pain medication. If you are taking pain medications — even over-the-counter — for more than two days a week (or nine days a month), you are at risk of developing rebound headaches.

Risk factors

Factors associated with the development of frequent headaches include:

  • Sex female
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Sleep disorders
  • Obesity
  • Snoring
  • The excessive use of caffeine
  • The overuse of headache medication
  • Other chronic pain conditions

Complications

If you have headaches, chronic daily, that are also more likely to have depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and other psychological and physical problems.

Prevention

Take care of yourself can help to relieve headaches chronic daily.

  • Avoid headache triggers. Keep a pain diary can help you determine what is causing the headaches, so that you can avoid the triggers. Include details about each headache, like when you started, what you were doing at the moment and how long it lasted.
  • Avoid excessive intake of drugs. Taking headache medications, including over-the-counter medicines, more than two times a week may increase the severity and frequency of headaches. Talk to your doctor about how to wean himself medication because it can have serious side effects if done improperly.
  • Get enough sleep. The average adult needs seven to eight hours of sleep a night. It is better to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Talk with your doctor if you have sleep disorders, such as snoring.
  • Do not skip meals. Eat healthy foods, in the same daily schedule. Avoid foods or drinks, such as those that contain caffeine, which seem to trigger headaches. Lose weight if you are obese.
  • Exercise regularly. Regular aerobic physical activity can improve your physical and mental state, well-being and reduce stress. With the permission of your doctor, choose activities that you enjoy, such as walking, swimming or cycling. To avoid injury, start slowly.
  • Reduce stress. Stress is a common trigger of chronic headaches. Get organized. To simplify the programming. Plan ahead. Keep a positive attitude. Try stress-reduction techniques, such as yoga, tai chi, or meditation.
  • Reduce the intake of caffeine. While some headache medications include caffeine because it can be beneficial in the reduction of headache, it can also aggravate headaches. Try to minimize or eliminate caffeine from your diet.

Diagnosis

It is likely that your doctor will examine you for signs of disease, infection, or neurological problems, and ask questions about your history of headaches.

If the cause of your headaches remains uncertain, your doctor may order imaging tests such as a ct scan or mri, to look for an underlying medical condition.

Treatment

The treatment for an underlying condition, it often fails to frequent headaches. If you do not detect a disease, the treatment focuses on the prevention of pain.

Prevention strategies vary, depending on the type of headache you have and if the excessive consumption of drugs is contributing to your headaches. If you are taking pain relievers for more than three days a week, the first step could be to wean yourself off of these drugs with the guidance of your doctor.

When you're ready to start preventive therapy, the doctor may recommend:

  • Antidepressants.Tricyclic antidepressants — such as nortriptyline (Pamelor) — can be used to treat chronic headaches. These medicines may also help treat depression, anxiety and sleep disorders that often accompany the chronic, daily headaches. Other antidepressants, such as selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIS), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, others), may help in the treatment of depression and anxiety, but have not been shown to be more effective than placebo for headache.
  • Beta-blockers. These drugs commonly used to treat high blood pressure, are also a mainstay for the prevention of migraine episodes. These include atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL), and propranolol (Inderal, Innopran XL).
  • Anti-seizure medications. Some anti-seizure drugs seem to prevent migraines and can be used to prevent the chronic daily headaches, as well. Options include topiramate (Topamax, Qudexy XR, others), divalproex sodium (Depakote), and gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise).
  • Nsaids. The prescription of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — such as naproxen sodium (Anaprox, Naprelan) — might be useful, especially if you are withdrawing from other pain relievers. It can also be used periodically when the headache is more severe.
  • The botulinum toxin. OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections provide relief for some people and may be a viable option for people who do not tolerate the medication daily as well. Botox is most likely that it is considered that if the headaches have features of chronic migraine.

Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants — such as nortriptyline (Pamelor) — can be used to treat chronic headaches. These medicines may also help treat depression, anxiety and sleep disorders that often accompany the chronic, daily headaches.

Other antidepressants, such as selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIS), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, others), may help in the treatment of depression and anxiety, but have not been shown to be more effective than placebo for headache.

The use of a drug is preferred, but if one medication does not work well, your doctor may consider the combination of drugs.

Alternative medicine

For many people, the complementary or alternative therapies offer relief of headaches. It is important to be cautious, however. Not all complementary or alternative therapies have been studied as headache treatments, and others will require more research.

  • Acupuncture. This ancient technique uses hair-thin needles are inserted into various areas of your skin at defined points. While the results are mixed, some studies have shown that acupuncture helps to reduce the frequency and intensity of chronic headaches.
  • Biofeedback. You might be able to control the headaches are becoming more aware of, and then change certain bodily reactions, such as muscle tension, heart rate, and skin temperature.
  • The massage. The massage can reduce stress, relieve pain and promote relaxation. Despite its value as a headache treatment has not been determined, the massage can be especially helpful if you have the tension of the muscles in the back of the head, neck and shoulders.
  • Herbs, vitamins, and minerals.Some evidence exists that the herbs feverfew and butterbur help prevent migraines or reduce their severity. A high dose of vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) could also reduce migraines. Coenzyme Q10 supplements may be helpful in some individuals. And oral supplements of magnesium sulfate can reduce the frequency of headaches in some people, although the studies do not agree. Ask your doctor if these treatments are right for you. Do not use riboflavin, feverfew, or butterbur if you're pregnant.
  • Electrical stimulation of the occipital nerve. A small battery electrodes surgically implanted near the occipital nerve at the base of his neck. The electrode sends a continuous pulses of energy to the nerve to relieve pain. This approach is considered in the research phase.

Herbs, vitamins, and minerals. Some evidence exists that the herbs feverfew and butterbur help prevent migraines or reduce their severity. A high dose of vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) could also reduce migraines.

Coenzyme Q10 supplements may be helpful in some individuals. And oral supplements of magnesium sulfate can reduce the frequency of headaches in some people, although the studies do not agree.

Ask your doctor if these treatments are right for you. Do not use riboflavin, feverfew, or butterbur if you're pregnant.

Before you try complementary or alternative therapy, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

Coping and support

Chronic daily headaches can interfere with your work, your relationships, and your quality of life. Here are some suggestions to help you cope with the challenges.

  • Take control. Commit to living a full and satisfying life. Work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that works for you. Take good care of yourself. Do things that lift the mood.
  • Seek understanding. Don't expect your friends and loved ones who instinctively know what is best for you. Ask for what you need, either alone, or less attention to their headaches.
  • Take a look at support groups. You may find it helpful to speak with other people who have painful headaches.
  • Consider counseling. A counselor or therapist offers support and can help you manage stress. Your therapist can also help you to understand the psychological effects of your headache. In addition, there is evidence that cognitive-behavioral therapy can reduce headache frequency and severity.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, you may be referred to a headache specialist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Be aware of pre-appointment restrictions. When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.

  • Keep a headache diary, even when headache occurred, how long it lasted, what intensity, what I was doing, immediately before the headache started, and another remarkable thing about the head pain.
  • Write down your symptoms and when they began.
  • Write down key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes and family history of headaches.
  • List of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking, including the dosage and frequency of use. These include medications used previously.
  • Write questions to ask their doctor.

Have a friend or family member, if possible, to help you remember information.

For chronic headaches, some questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is the likely cause of my headaches?
  • What are other possible causes?
  • What tests do I need?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • You should see a specialist?
  • There is printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you questions, such as:

  • Have your headaches has been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are your headaches?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your headaches?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen headaches?

What you can do in the meantime

To relieve your headache until you see your doctor, you can:

  • Avoid activities that worsen the pain of a headache.
  • Try over-the-counter medications to relieve the pain — such as naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others). To avoid rebound headaches, do not take these more than three times a week.
Symptoms and treatment of Chronic daily headaches