Daily Chronic Headache
Generally, most of the people would not consider a headache to be a serious illness. However, if you experiences headaches fifteen days or more in a month, the individual may be suffering from a condition referred to as chronic headache or chronic daily headache (CDH). Statistics show that around 4%-5% of adults suffer from chronic headaches.
The chronic headache condition can be classified into several sub-categories like chronic migraine, chronic tension type, new daily persistent and hemicrania continua. Furthermore, it should be noted that each of these subtypes may display its own set of signs and symptoms while the common symptom displayed by all is the persisting pain in the areas of the head. Migraine type of chronic headaches might show symptoms that includes nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity and a severe headache affecting just one side of the head with a pulsating or throbbing feeling. You might feel that both sides of your head is paining in a manner that is not quite severe and feel a pressing or tightening kind of sensation in your head if you happen to be experiencing chronic tension.
New daily persistent headaches, a subtype of chronic headache condition has the unique symptom where headaches that crop up abruptly and continues for nearly three days. Those suffering from this type of headaches might complain about a pressing sensation rather than throbbing on both sides of the head. In addition to these subtypes, hemicranias continua is also classified as a part of the chronic headache condition with symptoms that are rather more noticeable than the other subtypes. Symptoms such as daily persisting headaches that occur only on one side of the head without any sign of relief and also redness of eye near the affected area, nasal congestion and eye lid swelling are commonly displayed by individuals suffering from this type of chronic headache condition.
Presently, a cure has not been found for chronic headache conditions although certain medical and non medical methods are available to ease the pain experienced by patients. The recommended forms of treatment for chronic headache conditions include medication such as asprin and paracetamol, acupuncture, physical therapy and relaxation training. Furthermore, methods such as changes in the diet and psychological therapy are also being tried as possible cures for chronic headache conditions. According to many researches a combination of medicinal and non medicinal methods would be the most effective form of treatment.
Therefore, if one is suffering from daily chronic headache it is vital to get medical help as soon as possible. Although a cure may not be available, early treatment would definitely aid in improving the quality of life of the patient.
By MARY SHEDDEN