How to Get to the Root of Your Frequent Headaches

Most people get the occasional headache, but head pain is recurrent and persistent for some of the population. And not all headaches are the same; there are more than 150 different kinds of headache disorders. Some are mildly annoying, while others are crippling; some pose little health threat, while others are serious disorders that cause more serious symptoms.

According to the World Health Organization, headache disorders and migraine are two of the most common conditions worldwide. Up to 1 in 20 adults has a headache every — or nearly every — day, and 1 in 7 endures a migraine attack in the same period. Cluster headaches are less common, but they’re excruciatingly painful and a great example of a recurrent headache that needs medical attention.

At Memphis Neurology, our board-certified neurologists specialize in diagnosing and treating all types of headache disorders. If you’re experiencing frequent headaches, getting at the root cause can lead to effective treatment. Here’s what you need to do.

Primary versus secondary headaches

Headaches are first divided into primary versus secondary.

Primary headaches are their own condition, caused by problems with the pain-sensitive structures in your head. They can occur due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, nerves that don’t signal properly, dilated blood vessels, or problems with the head and neck muscles.

There are four types of primary headache disorders:

Tension-type
Migraine
Cluster headaches
New daily persistent headache

Secondary headaches are not standalone problems. An underlying medical condition triggers them, and they are a side effect or symptom of that condition.

The most common primary headache disorders

Understanding the root cause of a headache helps to know about the headache disorder.

1. Tension-type headaches (TTHs)

Tension-type headaches are the most common headache disorder. They produce mild, moderate, or severe pain behind the eyes, as well as in the neck and head. Many people say it’s like their head’s in a vice. The pain may develop on just one side or both.

An attack can last from 30 minutes to seven days, but TTH pain doesn’t worsen with activity, such as walking or bending over, and it isn’t associated with nausea or vomiting.

Occasional TTHs respond to over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, but if yours are recurrent or chronic, you may need prescription medication. Your doctor may also recommend common lifestyle changes such as getting plenty of restful sleep, regular exercise, and practicing relaxation techniques like massage or yoga.

2. Migraine

Migraine is more than just a headache. It’s a neurological disorder that produces pain in response to specific triggers that vary from person to person. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraine disorder is the sixth-most disabling disease worldwide, and, by nature, it produces recurrent attacks.

Unlike TTHs, migraine pain usually throbs just on one side of the head, which worsens with any kind of movement. The pain phase of the attack can last between 4-72 hours.

Along with crippling pain, a migraine attack causes neurological symptoms such as:

Heightened sensitivity to light, sound, and smells
Nausea and vomiting
Gastroparesis, a slowing of gut motility

Migraine requires medical attention, both to prevent attacks and to abort them when they come. Options include various classes of medication, neuromodulation devices (electrical stimulation), and lifestyle changes. Some medications and devices can serve a dual function as a preventive and an abortive.

3. Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches recur in groups of attacks lasting weeks or months. They have a sudden onset, with severe pain behind one eye that’s often described as searing, burning, or stabbing. Each discreet headache lasts 30-45 minutes, and you can have up to eight of these attacks within each 24-hour period. They can also suddenly go into remission for months or even years before another cluster occurs.

Cluster headaches require medical care to reduce the frequency and severity of the attacks.

Getting at the root of your frequent headaches

While most TTHs respond to OTC pain relievers and resolve within 48 hours, other headaches are more challenging to treat.

If your headache lasts longer than two days, or if you have a headache 15 days out of the month for three consecutive months, you should schedule an evaluation at the Memphis Neurology headache clinic to get a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Also, come if you experience:

A headache following a head injury
Headaches that interfere with daily activities
Headaches that don’t respond to OTC drugs
Headaches that cause extreme pain

Our clinic is equipped with advanced diagnostic equipment, including CT scans and electroencephalography (EEG), to help determine the exact cause of your headache and inform treatment.

If you have recurring headaches of any kind, you need to come to Memphis Neurology for an evaluation and appropriate treatment. Call us at either our Southaven, Mississippi, or Germantown, Tennessee, location to schedule, or book online with us today.