Useful Treatment Information for Chronic Headaches

Identifying and Treating Chronic Headache's Underlying Causes

Chronic headache are the ones that occur frequently over a period of time, generally at least every other day or 15 days per month for a period of at least six months.

If you have frequent splitting headaches, don't torment yourself with the feeling that you are the only one inflicted with this terrible problem. 

Ten percent of people experience at least one severe headache per week. Migraine headaches are believed to be associated with constriction and dilatation of the arteries in the head region, and tension headaches with tense muscles in the head, neck, and face region. Some headache specialists say that arteries play an important role, in migraines as well as tension headaches. 

Headache sufferers may or may not have the knowledge of what triggers their headaches. Find out what "triggers" or aggravates your headaches, so you can control your headaches. It is now a common knowledge that anxiety, anger, and depression can trigger or aggravate a headache. 

The most common immediate elements that occur prior to the onset of headache are stress and negative emotions. Get a handle on your stress and negative emotions. A flicker, glare, eye strain, fasting, alcohol, nicotine, certain foods, notably, cheese and chocolate, can also trigger headaches.  There are many ways of treating chronic headaches, both non-drug and prescription medications:

Non-Drug Headache Treatments

Treatments that address the underlying causes of the headache, such as stress or depression, are particularly effective for regular or chronic-type headaches, also they may require prescription medications.

Tension-type headache treatments include:

• Biofeedback
Biofeedback helps control the body's responses, including blood flow, blood pressure, and pulse rate. Techniques for achieving biofeedback include relaxation techniques, imagery, and self-hypnosis.

• Relaxation Techniques
Like biofeedback, these techniques can significantly reduce the effects of stress on your body, including, but not limited to, your headaches. For more information on simple relaxation techniques you can try yourself.

• Psychological Counseling
Chronic tension-type headaches can be manifestations of underlying depression or anxiety, which can be offset with counseling.

• Quitting Smoking
Smoking is a risk factor for every type of headache because it constricts blood vessels and depletes oxygen and blood flow to the head.

• Regular Habits
Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and having a regular exercise schedule all help to reduce tension-type headache risk.

Over-the-Counter Headache Medications

Occasional tension-type headaches generally respond to such over-the-counter medications as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin) sulindac (Clinoril) naproxen sodium (Aleve), tolmetic (Tolectin) and meclofenamate (Meclomen).

One recent study found that a combination of ibuprofen and caffeine was used successfully to treat episodic tension-type headaches. The medication is not available in the U.S., but the amount of caffeine included in the medication was equivalent to two large cups of coffee.

Prescription Headache Medications

Chronic type headaches that do not respond to over-the-counter medications may require treatment with prescription medications. These include:

• Acetaminophen mixed with codeine
This combination can be prescribed for occasional serious headaches that do not respond to over-the counter medications. Addiction and possible rebound headaches make these advisable only occasionally.

• Antidepressants
Antidepressants, particularly the tricyclics, are used to prevent chronic tension headaches. They can treat both the headache and its underlying cause.

• Tranquilizers
Tranquilizers can be used for short periods when treating chronic tension headaches, but these are highly addictive. The treatment must be monitored carefully.