Chronic Daily Headache

What causes chronic daily headache? Causes of headache can range from worsening migraines to brain injury. When I first meet a new headache sufferer, I ask about medical conditions that could cause daily headache. Assuming any conditions that affect headache, like anemias or thyroid disorders are under control, the next issue is to talk about the headaches themselves.

What many people do not realize about this problem is that they didn't start out that way! This problem develops over time and is usually multi-factorial.

In fact, chronic headaches are now considered a form of invisible chronic illness.

There are actually several ways that a person can move into this syndrome.

One is called transformational migraine. This is when migraines are in the process from transforming from episodic (one a month or so) to several times a month and increasing severity.

The natural reaction to transforming migraines is to take more medication! Then what happens? Well, the headaches become more frequent so you take the medication more frequently and...you can see where this is leading, right?

Transforming migraines eventually become all run together, and are now a chronic daily headache.

Another way people develop chronic daily headaches is from mistreatment or lack of treatment after head injuries.

NOTE: I said head injuries as in multiple insults to the brain. A single blow to the head rarely results in chronic headaches unless the blow was severe enough to cause a bleed or some other sort of damage.

Many times I will evaluate someone for post-traumatic concussions after a mild head injury. Family, friends and co-workers find it hard to believe the person now has severe refractory headaches.

With a little talking, I usually uncover the fact that there have been many previous injuries in motor vehicle accidents, sports in childhood and even one person with 15(!) motorcyle accidents. Guess he wasn't a good driver.

None the less, chronic daily headaches are a serious conditin deserving of appropriate treatment. While many people continue to search for the best headache medication what they fail to realize is that lifestyle changes play a very important role.

Read more about different types of headaches.

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