Did you know that headaches are one of the most common problems that disrupt daily life activities? If they last more than 15 days a month, then they are classified as chronic headaches. These headaches occur more frequently than acute headaches and last longer than a few minutes. However, identifying their triggers can help prevent them from happening. Learn what causes or triggers chronic headaches and ways to manage them in this article. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.
Chronic Headaches: Causes & Triggers
Many reasons cause chronic headaches. The most common triggers that cause headaches are:
- Stress: One of the most common headache triggers is stress, which triggers certain chemicals in the brain that cause vascular changes. These chronic headaches can cause anxiety, worry, shock, depression, excitement, and mental fatigue. These headaches also cause sleep disturbances, which make it difficult for your body to heal.
- Alcohol: If you drink excessive alcohol or drink for long periods, it can trigger headaches immediately. This happens because alcohol contains ethanol, which is a natural diuretic that causes dehydration and chemical imbalances in the body and brain, leading to severe headaches that last for hours to days. For people with migraines and cluster headaches, even small amounts of alcohol can trigger headaches.
- Allergies: If you have an allergy, when your nasal or respiratory tissues get inflamed, it increases the pressure on your sinuses, which causes headaches. If you experience frequent migraines, you may have a sensitive nervous system that triggers attacks by specific smells or lighting situations. This may happen because an allergen places stress on your body, which causes a headache. Migraines typically occur with nasal congestion or sinus symptoms.
- Caffeine: Caffeine can help and/or cause a headache. Sometimes a cup of coffee gives relief from a headache, but a high intake of caffeine can cause headaches. Caffeine is a common ingredient in some prescribed or over-the-counter headache medicines because it helps the body absorb headache drugs more effectively and quickly, to bring faster relief. However, overstimulation with caffeine can trigger headaches and cause a “rebound effect” when you just get an energy boost from caffeine.
- Eyestrain: If you spend long hours in front of a television, using computers, tablets, cell phones, and video game screens, it can lead to exhaustion, lack of circulation, and eyestrain, which causes headaches. Rarely does eye strain alone cause headaches, but if you suspect eye strain is the problem, you should get a checkup from an eye doctor.
- Hormone changes: Typically, women experience fluctuations in estrogen levels, which can sometimes trigger headaches. Few women experience headaches with menses; mostly, hormones are the most common trigger of migraine. This happens because estrogen levels drop around menstruation, causing migraine attacks in up to 60% of women who tend to experience migraines. After menopause, most women start experiencing fewer migraines. However, women who take hormone replacement therapy may not notice any difference in migraines.
Usually, migraine symptoms will improve during pregnancy, though some women do experience frequent migraine symptoms while pregnant. If you have headaches or experience a change in your headache patterns during pregnancy, you should consult with your doctor to ensure you have no other serious underlying causes.
- Hypertension: High blood pressure can trigger many health problems, including headaches. This happens when stress levels increase your blood pressure to rise above 200/110 to headaches. Make sure you measure your blood pressure regularly and talk with your doctor to know how to manage it.
- Smoking: Smoking can lead to headaches for both smokers and nonsmokers because tobacco contains nicotine, which can trigger a migraine. People who are exposed to second-hand smoke can experience headaches, especially if they have migraines. Smoking also increases the risk of stroke in people with migraines.
Need help with chronic headaches? Visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!! If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your pain, we recommend consulting with our healthcare provider to explore the right treatments or therapies for you. Always listen to your body and adjust your daily routine to prioritize your well-being. Visit Doral Health & Wellness Pain Relief Department in Brooklyn, to get professional help and guidance on how to manage your problem. Call us on + 1-718-367-2555 to get a consultation. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors at https://yuz88hfiyh7.typeform.com/Doralintake. Log on to www.doralhw.org. Or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.
