Constant Headache Causes

Headache is one of the most common conditions or symptoms in the world. It is experienced by people of any age group, at any time of the day or night, and any time of the year. It can be categorized into different types: frequent ones, constant ones or the ones that come and go. It can also be mild or severe; dull or throbbing. The type of headache depends on the cause and also varies accordingly.

Now, although one experiences it some time or the other in their life, constant headache is a sign of an underlying disorder. This low-grade headache, which appears on a daily basis, is not something to be ignored. Understanding the underlying cause is very important in order to get relief from it.

A minor headache can be caused due to variety of reasons like acidity, common cold, not having sufficient amounts of sleep, etc. However, the causes of frequent or long-lasting headache can be graver than these. Following are the prominent constant headache causes in people.

Migraine: Migraine is a condition marked by severe and recurring headache. Its exact cause is unknown. The type of headache experienced when suffering from migraine differs from one person to the other. In some people, it can be mild and last only for a couple of hours, whereas in others, it can be severe and last for a couple of days.

Migraine headache can also be followed by other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. In case of migraine, a person may experience headache in one or both parts of the head. In some people, the pain can worsen due to certain foods, strong odors or even hormonal changes.

Sinus Headache: Sinus headache is often confused with migraine headache. It is related to sinusitis which is a condition caused due to inflammation or infection of the sinus. Severe headache is observed in case of both, acute as well as chronic sinusitis. It can be dull, mild or even constant and severe. This pain worsens when a person bends down or sleeps in a supine position.

Head Injury: If a person has suffered from a head injury or trauma, he experiences constant headaches and dizziness. It should be noted that, otherwise, headache and dizziness (vertigo) are rarely linked to each other. Therefore, if they appear together, one must remember that it is a sure condition of a serious disorder. Injury to neck can also cause headache and dizziness.

Meningitis: Meningitis is one of the severe conditions that cause severe headache. This condition occurs when the membrane around the brain and spinal cord gets infected by bacteria or virus.

Apart from severe and frequent headache, fever, vomiting, confusion, and seizures are the other meningitis symptoms. Signs and symptoms of meningitis usually appear very quickly. Bacterial meningitis is more serious than the viral one; and can even lead to death if not treated immediately.

Stress: Nowadays, stress and tension are parts of the modern-day lifestyle and hence, are found to be the most prominent causes of constant headaches and fatigue. Stress has its roots in numerous problems related to work, finance, health, etc., that people face every day.

Similarly, loneliness or constant feeling of hopelessness, anxiety or other psychological problems give rise to stress. The changing lifestyle, alcohol and drug abuse also results in stress, tension, and consequently in frequent headache.

Cluster Headaches: Cluster headache is the sudden excruciating pain that one experiences at any time, and without any reason. The exact underlying cause of it is unknown. This pain usually starts at night and can last from a few minutes to few hours.

Cluster headache is considered as one of the worst types of pain experienced by human beings. It is often accompanied by other symptoms like redness and dropping of eyes and nasal stuffiness.

Dehydration: You may not be aware, but, headache is also one of the symptoms of dehydration. Inadequate intake of water or fluids results in dehydration. However, headache is not the only symptom of dehydration. Other symptoms like thirst, dizziness, weakness, dry mouth, muscle cramps, etc., are also observed.

Overdose of Drugs and Medication: Now, if you were thinking of taking painkillers for treating constant headaches, think twice. It has been observed that painkillers can also be responsible for causing it. People tend to take painkillers every time they have headache. This leads to a vicious cycle of headaches and medication. Side effects of several other medication can cause pain in head.

One can even undertake preventive measures like stress management, stopping alcohol and drug abuse, etc. Exercise, yoga and meditation also help greatly in prevention of constant headaches. Excess consumption of caffeine can also cause constant headaches. Therefore, it is wise to limit the intake of coffee and other caffeine containing products.

As you have seen the potential causes of constant headaches, it is only advisable not to ignore it, but, consult the doctor immediately. As with proper treatment, one can be successful in getting relief from the pain. However, at the same time, it is essential to take the necessary measures to prevent it. Take care!