Headaches keep more people from working and enjoying life than almost any other medical condition. According to data from the Global Burden of Disease study, each day, 15.8% of the world’s population has a headache, making it the second leading cause of years lived with disability.1 Headaches are disabling, and they cause missed time from school and work.
Nearly everyone has experienced an occasional short-term headache. These headaches generally resolve on their own with rest or an over-the-counter pain reliever. Chronic headaches are persistent or recurrent headaches that occur 15 or more days per month for at least three months. Examples include migraine, cluster, and tension headaches.
There are five types of chronic daily headaches that typically last more than four hours each day. The signs and symptoms vary, but these headaches classically recur and persist. Daily headaches of shorter duration can also occur, such as chronic cluster headaches, chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, hypnic headaches, and primary stabbing headaches.2
Migraines are severe headaches characterized by throbbing or pulsating pain, typically on one side of the head. Episodic migraines can transition to chronic migraines, a condition with daily or near-daily mild-to-moderate intensity headaches. The diagnostic criteria include the presence of headaches at least 15 days of the month, with migraine headache symptoms on at least eight days.3
Common migraine symptoms include:
Medication withdrawal headaches can complicate chronic migraines. These headaches result from taking high doses of pain relief medications for a long period and then abruptly stopping.
Chronic tension headaches are bilateral headaches that are typically described as a band around the head, not a throbbing headache. Chronic tension-type headaches have a more gradual onset and are rated as mild to moderate in intensity. Most people with tension headaches do not have other symptoms.
Hemicrania is characterized by continuous pain that varies in severity on one side of the head and face. Pain is cyclic and commonly occurs three to five times per day. Hemicrania continua is considered chronic when headache pain continues for at least three months without shifting sides or having pain-free periods.
Other symptoms:
Daily persistent headache syndrome is a headache that begins rather abruptly and is daily and non-stop from the onset. Surgery, stressful life events, and respiratory infections are common triggers.4
Medication overuse headaches typically occur as a result of treating another headache. Taking pain relievers regularly, especially in higher doses, can cause rebound headaches when the medication is stopped.
Chronic stress, medical conditions, surgeries, and infections can increase your risk for chronic headaches. Some chronic headaches, such as migraines, also have a genetic component. Medication side effects and lifestyle choices can also increase your risk of chronic headaches.
Lifestyle choices can increase your risk of chronic headaches. Some of these choices include the following:
Chronic medical conditions, such as obesity and diabetes, can increase the risk of chronic headaches, especially migraines. Migraines have a genetic component, and there is some evidence of a link between obesity and an increased risk of migraine headaches.5 Maintaining a healthy body composition by consuming a healthy diet and increasing physical activity can also help reduce headaches.
Uncorrected vision and dental issues can also increase the risk of headaches.
Medication Side Effects
Several medications, including pain relievers, can increase your risk of headaches.
Some common medications with headaches as a known side effect include the following:
Treatment options for chronic headaches will depend on the type of headache being treated. Here are some common lifestyle, medication, and non-invasive therapies that are used to treat chronic headaches.
If you are prone to chronic daily headaches, lifestyle modifications may help prevent or reduce the frequency of your headaches. Consider trying some or all of the following:
Medications used to treat chronic daily headaches depend on the type of headache.
Some of the commonly used medications to treat persistent migraines include the following:
Common medications used to treat other types of chronic headaches:
Non-invasive procedures can help relieve some types of chronic headaches.
Disclaimer
While we strive to always provide accurate, current, and safe advice in all of our articles and guides, it’s important to stress that they are no substitute for medical advice from a doctor or healthcare provider. You should always consult a practicing professional who can diagnose your specific case. The content we’ve included in this guide is merely meant to be informational and does not constitute medical advice.