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Recurring Headache CausesMigraine
When it comes to recurring headache causes, the most common is migraine. It is estimated that approximately 25 % of the population has suffered a migraine at one point in their lives. I am one of them as mentioned previously, and I continue to get migraines to this day, but they are managable!
See if you have two of the following symptoms for migraine headaches:
Additionally you probably have one of the following:
If so the diagnosis is migraine.
Take the migraine quiz to see how severe your headaches are. Women tend to get migraines more than men and usually those associated with mentrual cycles are even more painful. But the MOST common cause is something you and I can control. Hey who knew? It's STRESS. Yup, good old, plain old stress! We all have stress..everyone has it but the key is how do you manage it? I like to take out my stress doing sports like tennis. Great exercise and nothing beats smashing a tennis ball around to work off the daily "stuff".
I also unwind with relaxation CD's loaded on the iPod.
Download a free headache diary and keep track of your headaches.
Cluster Headache
Cluster headaches, are a second recurring headache cause and occur mostly in men. They tend to last less than two hours. They are truly painful and most people tell me they feel as if there is a knife behind their eye, stabbing outwards. The pain is always on one side of the face, the nose may be runny and the eye is red. Most of the time the headaches happen at the same time during the night as we now believe they are tied to the biorythyms of the brain and sleep cycles. Some people have them at the same time every year for a few weeks. Spring and Fall seem to be the most popular times for this and I can predict every year when the clinic will be crowded with my "usuals" coming in with their
cluster headaches.
Cervicogenic HeadacheAnother cause of headache that many are unfamiliar with, is cervicogenic headache. Now wait a minute! What are these big medical terms!Simply put: it's a pain in the neck. Literally. When the pain and spasming occurs over and over, it can cascade forward over the head and cause headache. Hence cervico (neck) genic (cause). Many times simple lifestyle changes and a short course of medication relieves the problem. These headaches can be brought on by lifting too much, pushing or pulling heavy loads and just plain sleeping wrong so your neck is all kinked up! This headache is closely related to
tension headache.
Analgesic Rebound HeadacheAdditionally, there is over use of over the counter medications like Tylenol Sinus or Excedrine Migraine. These medications used more than three times a week are a definite cause of recurring headache.One in particular that I refer to is the Claritin D Sinus Headache. I have done it my self believe it or not! When in pain you will reach for anything to take the headache away. With over use, now the condition is
analgesic rebound headache syndrome.
This can be one of the most difficult to treat recurring headache causes.
Trigeminal NeuralgiaAlthough somewhat rare, trigeminal neuralgia can reoccur years after the first bout of neuralgia.What is neuralgia? Just means pain in a nerve. Specifially the trigeminal nerve which runs along the side of the face and the jaw. Most of the time this is provoked by a virus or dental work but sometimes the cause is unknown.
Read more about trigeminal neuralgia.
Additional Causes of Recurring HeadacheYou cannot forget about the food items in our environment now that cause headaches. Many foods contain chemicals to enhance flavor, MSG being the most famous, which provoke headaches. Caffeine overuse is another migraine trigger.
Jaw and tooth problems can also cause recurring headaches. These are best managed by a dentist. If you feel you are suffering from TMJ symdrome, a dentist who specialises in this problem is the best person to help you. These conditions can include:
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