The Top 5 Causes of The Headaches That Never Seem to Go Away
You’re either the type of person who gets headaches or you’re not, and if you’re not, this article might not be for you. There’s nothing worse than having a chronic headache (a long-term headache, constant or on/off) that doesn’t ever truly seem to resolve for more than a day or two. It’s overwhelming. You can’t think, you can’t do; all you can do is put the migraine pads on your forehead and hope for the best. Sometimes, we’re the problem. There are so many causes of chronic headaches; you just need to find yours. Read you on for the top 5 causes.
Needing Glasses (or New Glasses)
Do you go to your check-up? Or do you suffer until you really can’t see anymore? And if you don’t have glasses yet, have you questioned whether you need them? The process doesn’t have to be complicated: a quick check-up and a prescription, and you can get your glasses online.
Chronic headaches in some people happen because of eye strain—a typical consequence of the screen-dominant world we’ve created. Whether we’re working on computers, watching TV, or looking at our phones, most of us spend an obscene amount of time in front of a screen.
See if you need a prescription or an updated one if you haven’t seen the optician for a while. And if you do, don’t spend ridiculous prices on opticians. Take your prescription and order a pair online. We promise you’ll save so much money.
Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety convert into tension-type headaches, the kind of headache that feels like a vice around your head. And let’s face it—most of us live in some degree of stress and anxiety (AKA, daily internal crisis). Chronic stress can cause certain muscles, specifically in the shoulders and neck, to be in a constant state of contraction, causing these persistent headaches. Stress headaches can also be a trigger for the dreaded migraine.
Stress is excessive, so the body has to keep switched on and be in protective mode, and this means keeping the muscles tense and the nerves inflamed.
Techniques like breathing exercises, meditation, 5-minute breaks every hour from work, exercises (daily short walks), and removing stressors can solve your problem. Yes, we know it’s not always easy to simply remove stress, but you have to at least try.
Dehydration
Are you drinking 2-3 liters of water per day?
If your answer is no, you could be the problem. Women should drink around 2.7 liters of water daily, and men should drink 3.7 liters. And most of us don’t understand how essential it is.
Our cells are 60% water; if you’re not giving them that, they’ll punish you in an endless list of ways—one of them being a headache. There are so many benefits to drinking water that it’s an entirely different article. Instead, read about it here.
Don’t forget that if you’re exercising, it’s recommended to drink an extra liter of water for every hour of exercise. Top tip: add Himalayan or Celtic salt to your water (only a small pinch), for electrolytes that make the cells absorb the water.
Chronic Medication Overuse
It may seem strange at first, but if your headache coping mechanism is paracetamol every day, you might actually be causing the headache. Some medications are also known to cause mild headaches, like oral contraceptives, opioids, and sleeping tablets, for example.
But the main point is that so-called medication overuse headaches or rebound headaches occur when patients become dependent on headache relief medications, such as pain relievers and some prescription-only migraine medications. And then withdrawing from the reliance on them also causes headaches—it’s a cycle of headaches.
To break the cycle, we’d recommend doing it under the guidance of a physician and using medications. There are other methods to rely on that are far less negative, such as physical therapy, acupuncture, or migraine prevention treatment.
Sinus Problems and Allergies
Sinus and allergy shock headaches are also the worst—your entire sinus system and head feel full constantly.
Congestion and inflammation of the sinuses caused by allergies or chronic sinusitis can cause pressure in your head, resulting in unbearable and debilitating headaches in your temple regions. It feels like a nagging, deeply embedded, pulsating sensation in the forehead, cheekbones, and eyeballs. Out of all the headaches, this has to be the worst.
Sinus headaches are most common when seasonal and environmental changes create allergic reactions, the presence of triggers, and associated symptoms of headaches. Antihistamines, nasal sprays, or even inhaling steam can reduce the symptoms, but often they’re more deeply rooted. If this type of headache is consistent for you, we’d recommend seeing an ear, nose, and throat specialist.
Final Word
Do you think your cause of headaches is listed here? Sadly, there are so many other reasons why a headache occurs. But the one thing we would say is that you don’t need to put up with it. If your headaches are so bad that they’re getting in the way of your daily life, it’s time to start finding a solution. Start with attempting to find the cause with some simple lifestyle changes. Or, if you have a new and persistent headache that doesn’t go with painkillers and is accompanied by dizziness, nausea or vomiting, temporary loss of consciousness, etc., contact medical services immediately.