Frequent headaches should i be worried

Migraines , although less common, are more severe. They also affect women more often than men. Prescription medications are available to treat migraines, but you also may benefit from simply resting in a quiet, dark room and using hot or cold compresses. Men are more likely to have these more sudden headaches, which are often marked by pain on one side of the head, behind the eye. They tend to happen in clustered periods of time, even multiple times a day, then disappear for a while.

Eyes tend to water, and a restless feeling is common. Migraine attacks can be triggered by changes in estrogen levels , and estrogen dips around the time that a woman starts her monthly period, according to Nada Hindiyeh, MD , a headache specialist and researcher at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, California. Certain types of birth control pills , pain relievers, and migraine-specific medications may help with these headaches, she says.

A meta-analysis published in Pain Physician , for example, found that oral magnesium significantly alleviated the frequency and intensity of migraine.

Nicotine changes the blood vessels in the brain, and cigarette smoke can irritate the nerves in the nose and throat — both of which can lead to migraine attacks or headaches. The health benefits of quitting smoking still clearly outweigh this possible discomfort. Frequent use of medication for chronic headaches can actually lead to more headaches. Medication-overuse headache MOH is a chronic daily headache that happens when acute medications for headache or migraine are used more than two or three days per week, according to the American Migraine Foundation.

These headaches have been linked with over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen , nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen Aleve , and combination pain relievers that contain aspirin and caffeine. Prescription drugs are also associated with MOH, including triptans, ergotamines, and opioids , according to the American Migraine Foundation.

The best treatment for this type of headache is to stop taking the frequently used medication. People who develop MOH should work with their doctor to identify bridge therapy and lifestyle modifications to help with pain relief while stopping the medication and moving forward afterward.

The relationship between caffeine and headaches can be complicated. Some people drink a cup of coffee or take medication with caffeine to help with a headache, but for others, the stimulant can trigger an attack. If you are prone to caffeine-withdrawal headaches, talk with your doctor about gradually weaning yourself off caffeine over a month to see whether headache pain decreases. Last Name.

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Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Most people have headaches from time to time. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Garza I, et al. Overview of chronic daily headache. Accessed Jan.