But there are contributing factors that can trigger chronic headaches, such as:. Chronic headaches can also be linked to other disorders, including depression, anxiety, sinus infections , allergies and temporomandibular joint dysfunction, also known as TMJ. In order to figure out your headache pattern and identify your triggers, you may want to keep a headache diary to share with your doctor.
The National Headache Foundation provides a handy template. But for some people, they occur almost every day. Tension headaches affect both sides of your head with a pressing, moderate pain.
But if your headache is paired with fever, phlegm , or any other indication you might be sick, an underlying sinus infection may be to blame. Fix it: If you do have a sinus infection, the headache should go away after taking antibiotics to knock out the infection—so pay a visit to your physician. Ever wake up for a super early flight and notice a nagging pain in your head?
Disrupting your body's schedule can trigger headaches, Dr. Getting up earlier or later than usual can throw off your circadian rhythm. The stress of traveling, change in barometric pressure, change in time zones, and just being at an airport can all trigger a headache.
Also, stress relief practices are especially important in hectic travel settings —like loud, crowded airports—to keep nagging head pain under control.
Caffeine causes vasoconstriction in your blood vessels, meaning they get a little narrower. If you drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks every day, your body gets used to it, Dr. So when you skip it one day, your blood vessels don't become constricted and can make your head hurt. It becomes a vicious cycle, slugging back a mug to find relief, and just further deepening your need for caffeine.
Fix it: "It's unrealistic to tell all headache patients to avoid caffeine," Dr. Instead, she recommends moderation—a maximum of two caffeinated drinks in one day—to avoid that withdrawal headache when you go without.
Keep in mind, that means two small-size coffees, not jumbo cups. Mixing, matching and overusing headache treatments can potentially backfire.
Overdoing it on painkillers can actually make the pain worse—and the caffeine in some headache medications can cause withdrawal headaches , compounding the effects. Overuse of any pain medication to treat headaches can cause what's called a rebound headache. Fix it: If you've been taking a lot of OTC medications, try stopping for a day or drastically limiting your intake.
Googling your headache symptoms may result in a self-diagnosis of brain tumor. A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells on your brain, and they can be either cancerous or benign the Mayo Clinic says. Rest assured: They're rare, so chances are you don't have one. But if headaches are a new thing for you, are the most severe you've ever experienced, or are changing or worsening over time, these are signs your doctor may order a brain scan.
But if you're ever worried about what's causing your headaches, it's worth discussing with your doctor. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
The latter is often more concerning. Most people get headaches from time to time. They usually go away with or without any treatment. Frequent headaches are much less common and much more serious. They can disrupt your work or personal life. They can also be a sign of an illness or injury. Dalessio Headache Center at Scripps Clinic. In some cases, headaches are not properly diagnosed. Consult with your primary care doctor if your headache symptoms get worse or occur more often despite treatment at home.
Your doctor may refer you to a headache specialist. Jackson says. Headache specialists at Scripps help people who suffer from recurring, chronic headaches through a combination of traditional and complementary care with a focus on prevention and lifestyle changes. Treatments may include medication, biofeedback and other therapies. Bonakdar stresses the importance of clear and open communication between doctor and patient.
There are many types of headaches, levels of frequency and severity. However, consult your doctor if:. The causes of many chronic daily headaches aren't well-understood. True primary chronic daily headaches don't have an identifiable underlying cause. This type of headache usually develops in people who have an episodic headache disorder, usually migraine or tension type, and take too much pain medication. If you're taking pain medications — even over-the-counter — more than two days a week or nine days a month , you're at risk of developing rebound headaches.
If you have chronic daily headaches, you're also more likely to have depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and other psychological and physical problems. Chronic daily headaches care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
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