Chronic Headaches: Causes, Effects, and Treatment Options

4% of Americans suffer from Chronic Daily Headaches, are you one of them?

If you experience headaches that occur more than 15 days per month for at least three months, you may be suffering from chronic daily headaches. This condition is different from occasional tension headaches or migraines, and can significantly impact your quality of life. In this article, we will explore the causes, effects, and treatment options for chronic daily headaches, as well as how chiropractic care can help.

How Do They Happen?

There are many potential factors that can contribute to chronic daily headaches, including genetics, environment, lifestyle, and medical conditions. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, approximately 40% of patients with chronic daily headaches have a family history of headache disorders. Other risk factors include high levels of stress, poor sleep habits, dehydration, and medication overuse.

What are Common Effects?

Chronic daily headaches can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life. In addition to the physical pain and discomfort, they can also cause emotional and social effects such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation. According to a study published in the Journal of Headache and Pain, patients with chronic daily headaches reported significantly lower quality of life scores compared to healthy controls.

How Can They Be Treated?

There are many different types of treatments available for chronic daily headaches, including medication, lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies. Some common medications used to treat chronic daily headaches include antidepressants, beta blockers, and antiepileptic drugs. Lifestyle changes can also play a significant role for treatment options, improving sleep habits, reducing stress, and avoiding triggers like alcohol and caffeine can also be effective. Chiropractic care can be a useful alternative or complement to traditional medical treatments for chronic daily headaches. According to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Headache and Pain, chiropractic adjustments can significantly reduce headache frequency and severity.

Don't Just Take Our Word For It

Chronic daily headaches can be a debilitating condition that affects many people. Fortunately, there are many different treatment options available, and chiropractic care can be a useful addition to your headache management plan. If you are experiencing chronic daily headaches, it is important to seek help from a qualified healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause and develop an effective treatment plan. With the right treatment, it is possible to manage chronic daily headaches and improve your quality of life. There is a growing body of research on the health benefits of Chiropractic care, and many studies have shown that this type of care can be effective in the treatment and care of Chronic Daily Headaches.

References:

1. "Chronic Daily Headache: Diagnosis and Management" by Elizabeth Loder and Joel Saper (American Family Physician, 2004)

2. "Chronic daily headache" by Rami Burstein and David Borsook (New England Journal of Medicine, 2012)

3. "Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Chronic Daily Headache" by Rebecca Erwin Wells and Andrew Charles (Current Pain and Headache Reports, 2013)

4. "Chiropractic care for patients with migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis" by Yang Xu et al. (Journal of Headache and Pain, 2019)