Getting headaches every day is definitely NOT NORMAL!
While occasional headaches are common, experiencing them on a daily basis suggests a condition known as chronic daily headaches, which can be debilitating. If you find yourself having headaches 15 days or more each month for at least three months, you may be dealing with chronic daily headaches.
Generally, chronic daily headaches manifest in four main types:
- Chronic migraine headaches: These can impact one or both sides of the head, accompanied by a throbbing sensation and moderate-to-severe pain. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Learn about the difference between headache and migraine.
- Chronic tension headaches: Typically affecting both sides of the head, these headaches cause mild-to-moderate pain characterized by a sensation of pressure or tightness rather than throbbing.
- New daily persistent headaches: These sudden headaches commonly affect both sides of the head and present with pressing or tightening pain of mild-to-moderate intensity, often in individuals with no prior history of headaches.
- Hemicrania continua: Exclusive to one side of the head, these headaches persist continuously without pain-free intervals. They feature intermittent spikes of severe pain and typically respond to the prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug Indocin.
Additionally, they may be associated with symptoms such as:
- redness or tearing of the eye on the impacted side
- nasal congestion
- drooping eyelid
- narrowed pupil
- or a sense of restlessness
What Triggers Chronic Headaches?
The exact reasons behind the onset of this persistent condition remain elusive. Factors potentially contributing to it encompass:
- Inflammation or complications affecting the blood vessels within and surrounding the brain.
- Stroke incidents, characterized by blocked blood vessels in the brain, leading to diminished blood circulation.
- Infections, such as meningitis.
- Elevated or decreased intracranial pressure.
- Presence of brain tumors.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Excessive reliance on pain medication.
How to Prevent Chronic Headaches
Although the exact cause of chronic headaches remains unclear, there are steps you can take to prevent or alleviate their severity potentially:
Identify and avoid triggers: Keep a record of possible stimuli like specific foods, actions, or environmental elements that may lead to headaches. By recognizing these triggers, you can make efforts to steer clear of them.
Moderate medication usage: Limit the use of headache medications to avoid dependency and potential exacerbation of symptoms. Consult with a healthcare professional if you’ve been relying on medication for an extended period, as abrupt cessation may not be advisable for some drugs.
Prioritize sleep: Strive to achieve seven to eight hours of restorative sleep every night, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. If sleep troubles persist, seek guidance from a medical professional.
Maintain regular meals: Eat balanced meals and avoid items known to trigger headaches. Additionally, address any weight concerns through healthy eating habits if necessary.
Incorporate regular exercise: Engage in enjoyable physical activities, ensuring approval from your doctor, to enhance both your physical and mental health while alleviating stress. Consider activities such as walking or cycling for optimal benefits.
Manage stress: Engage in stress-reduction practices like yoga, tai chi, or meditation to ease tension, as stress frequently exacerbates chronic headaches.
Limit caffeine intake: While caffeine may be included in some headache medications for pain relief, excessive consumption can potentially worsen headaches. Think about cutting down on or removing caffeine from your diet to evaluate how it affects the frequency and intensity of your headaches.
How a Chiropractor Can Help with Headaches
Chiropractic care for headaches presents a drug-free and non-invasive strategy for addressing and preventing headaches, including chronic daily headaches. By emphasizing the connection between the spine and the nervous system, chiropractors acknowledge that spinal misalignments or dysfunctions may play a role in various health concerns, including headaches.
Through spinal adjustments and manipulations, chiropractors aim to correct misalignments (subluxations) in the spine, which can alleviate tension and pressure on the nerves. This can help reduce headache frequency, severity, and duration for many individuals.
Moreover, chiropractors may incorporate additional therapies such as massage, stretching exercises, and lifestyle counseling to address contributing factors like poor posture, muscle tension, and stress, which are common triggers for headaches.
If you’re experiencing chronic headaches, consulting with a chiropractor could be a valuable step toward discovering relief & enhancing your overall quality of life.
