Chronic headaches are a common health issue affecting individuals' daily lives. Such pains can impact not only physical comfort but also mental health negatively. People suffering from chronic headaches often experience sleep problems, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and reduced work performance. When headaches become frequent and persistent, it is crucial to identify the underlying cause and initiate an appropriate treatment process.
What is Chronic Headache?
Chronic headache refers to headaches lasting more than 15 days a month and persisting for at least 3 months. These types of headaches may also complicate the individual's life from psychological and social perspectives. Chronic headaches can develop due to tension-type headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, or secondary causes.
What Are the Types of Chronic Headaches?
There are different types of chronic headaches. Common types include migraines, tension-type headaches, and cluster headaches.
- Migraine: This is a severe, pulsating headache felt on one side of the head. Symptoms like sensitivity to light, sound, or smells, and nausea may accompany it.
- Tension-Type Headache: A moderate to mild pressing or tightening headache felt on both sides of the head. Factors such as stress, tension, and poor posture can cause this type of headache.
- Cluster Headache: A very severe headache felt unilaterally. Symptoms such as redness in the eye, tearing, and runny nose can also be observed.
Psychological Headaches and Emotional Factors
Psychological headaches are a common health issue in which emotional factors play an important role. Constant mental pressure, high anxiety levels, uncontrolled anger, or suppressed emotions can trigger psychological headaches.
In individuals with anxiety disorders, headache can appear both as a cause and as a result. Over time, this can turn into a cycle, weakening the individual's psychological resilience.
Managing psychological factors can be a crucial step in reducing headaches. Evaluating the emotional state of individuals experiencing headaches and, if necessary, seeking professional support can be effective in the treatment process.
What is the Impact of Chronic Headaches on Quality of Life?
Chronic headaches can affect a person's sleep quality. Difficulties in falling asleep, frequent awakenings at night, or waking up with a headache in the morning can reduce energy levels in daily life.
In the workplace, headaches can lead to concentration problems, performance loss, and frequent absenteeism. Inability to focus during meetings and reduced efficiency at the computer can affect both the individual and their colleagues.
In social life, fatigue, irritability, and reluctance due to headaches may be observed. Individuals may withdraw from social environments and avoid spending time with loved ones.
Treatment Approaches for Chronic Headache
Treatment for chronic headaches begins with accurately identifying the underlying cause. Neurological evaluations, physical examinations, imaging techniques, and psychiatric consultations if needed can shape the treatment plan.
For tension-type and psychological headaches, medication therapy, along with cognitive-behavioral therapy, stress management techniques, and relaxation exercises are recommended.
For migraines and nerve-based pains, specific medications and lifestyle changes are applied. Establishing regular sleep patterns, engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy diet, and controlling screen time play important roles in managing headaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between tension-type headache and migraine?
While tension-type headache is felt as a pressing sensation on both sides of the head, migraine is usually unilateral, throbbing, and accompanied by light sensitivity. Migraines occur in episodes, while tension-type headaches are more stable and long-lasting.
What are the symptoms of psychological headaches?
Headaches that have no identifiable physical cause, start during stressful or anxious periods, and progress parallel to emotional changes can be of psychological origin. Such headaches are usually felt as a sense of pressure and may be resistant to medication.
What happens if chronic headache is not treated?
Untreated headaches can become frequent over time and reduce the individual's quality of life. They can also lead to problems such as depression, sleep disorders, and loss of productivity.
What causes persistent headaches that start from the neck?
Headaches starting from the neck often indicate muscle tension, poor posture, or issues with the cervical vertebrae. Occasionally, serious underlying causes like hypertension or nerve compression may exist, requiring evaluation.