A chronic daily headache can make a day seem so much longer. When headaches last day after day, without relief in sight, it can be very draining on a person. Constant headaches cause fatigue, which can lower the immune system. Finding out the causes of these headaches can improve the quality of life for most people suffering from them.

There is about 3-5 percent of the adult population who suffer from chronic headaches. Four types exist; hemicrania continua, chronic migraine, chronic tension-type headache, and new daily persistent headache. Due to the nature of these headaches being a continuous pain, this makes them the most debilitating type around.

The type of chronic headache with consistent pain involved, is a hemicrania continua. Pain associated with this headache only affects one side of the head, but it hurts without letting up. This constant pain instigates redness and watering of the eye on the affected side of the head. Besides swelling to the face, there is also a runny nose or congestion included.

A chronic tension-type headache is usually more of a pressing sensation on the sides of the head. Sometimes there is nausea or light and sound sensitivity. Chronic migraines are the type of headaches that have throbbing pains, there is usually vomiting or nausea involved. Sensitivity to sounds and bright lights are also common.

Causes Found- Many types of causes include inflammation in blood vessels near or inside the brain, meningitis or other infections, tumors on the brain, pressure inside the cranium that is too high or too low, any type of brain injury caused by trauma, as well as pinched nerves in the neck. Not all causes of these chronic headaches have been found and listed, but these are the many known causes as of now.

Risk Factors- Chronic headaches are more prevalent in women than in men. No matter what the sex is of the person, the risk factors of developing such headaches are the same. These factors include; snoring, obesity, overuse of caffeine or pain medication, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. A combination of any of these will only increase the chances of having chronic headaches on a daily basis.

An Expected Diagnosis- Doctors are able to scan the brain, but using an MRI, CT Scan, or an X-ray to look for disruptions. A blood or urine sample may also be taken in order to run analysis on either of them. Doctors are able run tests and ask just the right questions in order to find the causes of chronic headaches.

Types of Treatment- Prevention is usually the best medicine, but this isn’t always the case. Doctors are able to prescribe medication for a medical condition, when it exists, in order to control the onset of a chronic daily headache.

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