If you suffer from chronic daily headaches, you are probably looking for chronic headache relief! What you may not know, is that there a number of different types out there. Primary chronic headaches are caused by the conditions listed below. Causes of secondary headaches are factors such as neck pain or back ache, medication side effects, dental issues, or food allergies. Keeping a headache journal is a good first step to discovering the cause of your chronic headache. Once you have this information, see your doctor for the diagnosis and pain relief options right for you.
Tension headaches account for 90% of all headaches suffered and are a common cause for chronic headaches. Most tension headaches are caused by fatigue, stress, poor posture, caffeine, cigarettes or alcohol. Over the counter (OTC) pain relievers are a good short term solutions for chronic headache relief, but the best treatment is to figure out what the cause is and take those things out of your life. If stress or tension are at the root, biofeedback, meditation, or just 20 minutes of scheduled relaxation can bring your stress levels down. OTC pain relief drugs for tension headaches include ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and acetaminophen. If your tension headache persist, see your doctor or health care provider.
Another type of chronic headache is the sinus headache. Pain is usually focused around the eyes, forehead, and upper teeth, and pain worsens when you shake your head. Sinus headaches occur when the lining of the sinuses become inflamed, clogged and infected. They can be accompanied by fever and chills, congestion, fatigue, and post-nasal drip, so you may feel like you have a cold or the flu. Chronic headache relief from sinus headaches include regularly using a humidifier, alternating hot/cold compresses, nasal irrigation, and taking decongestants and OTC pain medications. If chronic sinusitis is behind your chronic headaches, antibiotics and nasal steroid medication are necessary to cure the underlying disease.
Cluster headaches occur the least often, and 90% of the sufferers are male. They are a one-sided, severe pain that occurs in clusters:
1-6 headaches a day for days/weeks. They disappear for a while, but then return. Because the pain is so severe, they are often confused with migraine headaches. Chronic headache relief from cluster headaches can sometimes be found in natural remedies like aromatherapy, exercise, head or foot massage, hot or cold compresses, or herbal therapies. Preventative options include melatonin, casaicin cream applied in the nostril, verapamil, Depakote, and other drugs. Treatment options include inhaled oxygen, lidocaine nose drops or cream, Ergotamine, DHE, or injectable Imitrex.
Migraine headaches are neurological disease that cause disabling, severely painful headaches, which often occur with other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or light sensitivity. Many people have triggers that start the migraine process. Triggers include red wine, chocolate, caffeine or MSG, smoking, exercise, medications, hormones, or stress. A migraine diary can help you identify your own triggers, and is a good first step in chronic headache relief from migraines.
Once a migraine diagnosis has been made, there are two treatment approaches for migraine relief: preventative or acute (medication once the pain has started). Many people find migraine relief from taking migraine prevention medications, but they are considered chronic medications since they need to be taken daily to prevent migraine headaches. Preventative classes of drugs for migraine help include anti-convulsants, calcium-channel blockers, beta-blockers, antidepressants, and Botox.
Common acute migraine pain relief options are the triptans, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ergots, narcotics and barbiturates (both highly addictive), steroids and combination drugs. Triptans, the most common medication class, give pain relief, reduce inflammation, and shrink blood vessels. Triptans include medications like Imitrex, Zomig and Maxalt.
NSAIDs and other pain relievers should only be considered for short term chronic headache relief, unless under a physician's care. Long term use can be associated with stomach problems and rebound headaches, (headaches caused when not taking them anymore), or addiction in the case of barbiturates and narcotics.
Whatever the cause of your chronic headaches, diagnosis is the first step to chronic headache relief. The right information is key to finding the cure to your chronic headaches!
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