Headaches can be harmless, fleeting and disappear without a trace, but chronic headaches can relate to health problems that you may be unaware of.

Chronic headaches can be caused by various health problems, ranging from totally minor to pretty major. Do not ignore a chronic headache; rather visit your GP for medicine and/or to have tests done to determine the cause.

The following ten health issues may cause chronic headaches:

1. You are stressed

If you are suffering from headaches, stop and think about what is going on in your life. How stressed are you? Are you dealing with it or are you just sweeping your stress under the rug?

2. You are dehydrated

Dehydration headaches are caused by an inadequate amount of fluid for the body to function correctly. Most people need between four and six glasses of water per day.

3. Your oestrogen levels dropped

Thanks to the drop in oestrogen right before menstruation, many women experience PMS-related headaches. There are several treatments options available.

4. You have a sinus problem

If your headache is paired with fever, phlegm or any other indication you might be ill, an underlying sinus infection may be to blame. The headache should go away after taking antibiotics to knock out the infection.

5. You are suffering from anaemia

A lack of red blood cells, or dysfunctional red blood cells, in the body leads to reduced oxygen. The good news is that anaemic-induced headaches are reversible by increasing your iron intake with iron supplements.

6. You have a chronic disease

Headache is a common side effect of many chronic health conditions like fibromyalgia, lupus and diabetes. It is always worth talking to your doctor to figure out if an underlying condition could be causing them.

7. You are taking too many headache painkillers

Overuse of any pain medication to treat headaches can cause what’s called a “rebound headache”. If you have been taking a lot of over-the-counter medications, try stopping for a day or drastically limit your intake.

8. Your body clock is out of kilter

Disrupting your body’s schedule can trigger headaches. Getting up earlier (or later) than usual, a change in barometric pressure and a change in time zones can throw off your circadian rhythm.

9. You drink too much caffeine

Caffeine causes constriction of your blood vessels. If you drink caffeinated drinks every day, your body gets used to it, but when you skip one day, your blood vessels don’t become constricted and it can cause a headache. It is recommended to drink a maximum of two caffeinated drinks in one day to avoid withdrawal headaches.

10. You may suffer from a serious health condition

There are other serious health conditions that may cause chronic daily headaches, namely inflammation or other problems with the blood vessels in and around the brain, including:

    • Stroke
    • Infections, such as meningitis
    • Intracranial pressure that’s either too high or too low
    • Brain tumour or traumatic brain injury.

If headaches are new to you, are the most severe you have ever experienced, or are changing or worsening over time, you should visit your doctor to have tests done to determine the cause.

 

Sources

http://www.health.com
http://www.mayoclinic.org
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com