Having aheadacheis a painliterally and figuratively.
Whether the pain is splitting, pulsating, or downright all-encompassing, headaches can wreak havoc on your life.
Unfortunately, there is a surprisingly long list of causes of constant headaches.
Heather Hazzan. Wardrobe styling by Yuiko Ikebata. Hair by Jerome Cultrera. Makeup by Deanna Melluso.
An attack may last weeks or months, according tothe Mayo Clinic.
Cluster headache spells last, on average, for 6 to 12 weeks before going into remission.
There are exceptions to this, however.
Certain medications can trigger cluster headaches, according to the Mayo Clinic.
They are not very common and seem to run in families, Dr. Hutchinson says.
There are actually four distinct stages of amigraine.
There is also the aura stage which lasts for about 20 to 60 minutes.
Its important to note that not everyone experiences all four of these phases.
Experts believemigraines are primarily genetic.
Tension headaches can be triggered by everything fromdehydrationto undiagnosed diabetes or anautoimmune disease.
But stress is the most commonly reported trigger for tension headaches, theMayo Clinicexplains.
“It’s a tight, oppressing feeling,” Dr. Hutchinson explains.
If you’re experiencing constant headaches, chances are they’re either tension headaches or migraines.
So what does it mean if you have constant headaches?
The causes of constant, headacheswhether tension or migrainerange from totally minor to pretty major.
Here are 10 things your headaches could be telling you about your health.
“Unresolved stress can really contribute to headache,” Dr. Hutchinson says.
If you’re suffering from constant headaches, stop and think about what’s going on in your life.
How stressed are you?
And are you just pushing yourstressunder the rug instead of dealing with it?
Fix it:This is where stress management and self-care techniques become crucial.
These techniques can range from lifestyle changes to psychotherapeutic interventions.
like cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you better cope with anxious thoughts.
One important thing to look at is water intake, asdehydration can cause headaches.
Lower blood volume means less oxygen is getting to the brain.
Then, drink more water (of course).
It can bring on symptoms including fatigue, feeling weak, shortness of breath, and others.
“More severe anemia can cause headache,” Dr. Hutchinson says.
Fix it:If youre having symptoms of anemia, bring them up with your doctor.
Luckily, if you suffer fromiron- or vitamin-deficiency anemia, it’s reversible by upping iron or vitamin intake.
Your doctor will guide this course of treatment.
You have a chronic disease.
Headache is a common side effect of many chronic health conditions likefibromyalgia, lupus, anddiabetes.
However, constant headaches would typically accompany other symptoms.
Be your own health advocate.
Youre dealing with hormonal issues, like menstruation.
Thanks to the drop in estrogen right before menstruation, many people experience PMS-related headaches.
In fact,menstruation is one of the biggest migraine triggersfor people who have periods.
“Any time of hormonal change is a vulnerable time for headaches,” Dr. Hutchinson says.
You have a sinus infection.
Sinus headaches are not that common, Dr. Hutchinson notes.
“Most sinus headaches are just migraines with sinus symptoms,” she says.
Your bodys internal clock (or circadian rhythm) is off.
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. Hutchinson says.
Getting up earlier (or later) than usual can throw off your circadian rhythm.
“Travel, in general, is a trigger,” she adds.
You drink too much caffeine.
Caffeinecauses vasoconstriction in your blood vessels, meaning they get a little narrower.
(Keep in mind, that means two small-size coffees, not jumbo cups.)
You’re trying too many headache remedies.
Mixing, matching and overusing headache treatments can potentially backfire.
“Sometimes, the thing youre taking for headache starts working against you,” Dr. Hutchinson says.
Overuse of any pain medication to treat headaches can cause what’s called a rebound headache.
In rare cases, constant headaches could be a sign of a brain tumor.
Googling your headache symptoms may result in a self-diagnosis of brain tumor.
Rest assured: They’re rare, so chances are you don’t have one.
But its a possibility, and something you don’t want to miss, Dr. Hutchinson says.
