Why do I have recurring headaches? How to prevent it.

Recurring headaches, especially on the side of your head, are called migraines. Migraines are commonly caused by stress, certain foods, hormonal change, sleep change, and weather changes.

Migraine is a common problem, with an estimated worldwide prevalence of about 12%. It is a disorder of the brain that causes severe headaches.

The vast majority of people with migraine experience moderate to severe pain at least 15 days per month for at least three months each year.

Migraines are often associated with triggers but can occur without any known trigger. It’s not uncommon for patients to experience migraine with no known cause or trigger.

In this article, we will learn more about recurring headaches (migraines), their causes, and how to deal with them. Let’s dive right in.

What are migraines (recurring headaches)?

Migraines are the most common headache disorder, affecting more women than men. Migraines usually occur in conjunction with one or more other symptoms (such as nausea or sensitivity to light) and typically last 4 to 24 hours, but they can last up to 3 days.

Type of migraine

There are two major types of migration Aura and Nonaura.

• Aura

A migraine aura is a visual disturbance that usually appears just before a migraine attack begins. It usually lasts less than 2 minutes and is usually quite mild, although some people experience a more severe form of this phenomenon.

• Nonaura

This is the most common recurring headache, and it occurs without warning. The symptoms include a dull ache in the head and neck, which may be worse in the morning or when you sit up. Headaches of this type usually last for several hours and are more severe during periods of stress or fatigue.

Other common types of recurring headaches.

• Tension headaches

A tension headache occurs when the muscles around your neck and shoulders tighten. This can cause pain on one side of your head, behind your eyes, or in your ear. These headaches tend to occur more often at night and after physical activity. They may last for several hours or even days.

• Cluster headache

This is one of the most painful types of headaches and is characterized by recurrent outbreaks of intense pain on one side of the head that lasts from 10 minutes to several hours. The pain occurs in cycles over a period from weeks to months.

Causes of recurring headaches

Many factors may be involved in causing recurring headaches. For example, some people have extra blood vessels in their brains that can leak blood during a migraine attack. Other factors that may play a role include:

• Hormonal changes

Women going through menopause may experience increased levels of estrogen and progesterone, which can cause hormone-related headaches. In addition to this hormonal shift, pregnant women or breastfeeding may also experience migraine headaches.

• Stress

The stress increases the production of certain chemicals in the brain that may trigger a migraine attack. Emotional stress can cause you to become distracted by your thoughts or nervous about something happening in your life; this leads to an imbalance of chemicals in your brain that may cause a migraine headache.

• Certain foods

Foods such as chocolate or caffeine have been linked with migraine headaches because they contain theobromine. Theobromine is similar to caffeine but also has pain-relieving properties (it’s found in dark chocolate).

Chocolate contains other compounds that affect blood pressure and heart rate, both of which can trigger headaches. So avoiding chocolate altogether if you have migraines is recommended.

Prevention of recurring headaches

• It may be possible to reduce persistent everyday headaches by taking care of yourself.

Keeping away from things that cause headaches You can identify the factors that cause your headaches and prevent them by keeping a headache diary. Please include information about each headache, including the time it began, what you were doing at the time, and how long it lasted.

• Have enough rest.

An average adult needs between seven and eight hours of sleep every night. It is important to have consistent sleep and wake-up time each day. Speak with your doctor if you snore or have other sleep problems.

• Prevent overusing medications.

More than twice a week, using over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers might make your headaches worse and more frequent. Incorrect weaning off the medicine might have major negative effects, so talk to your doctor about how to accomplish it.

• It would help if you did not skip meals.

Eat nutritious meals at the same time every day. Foods and beverages that trigger headaches, such as those containing caffeine, should be avoided. You should lose weight if you are overweight.

• Regular exercise

Aerobic exercise regularly may help you feel better physically and emotionally and reduce stress. Choose exercises you enjoy with your doctor’s approval, such as running, surfing, or cycling. To avoid injury, begin slowly.

• Reduce your stress.

Chronic headaches are frequently triggered by stress. Try stress-reduction exercises like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing. Make a plan. Simplify your timetable. Make a plan. Maintain an optimistic attitude.

Treatments

Combining medicine for chronic headaches with non-drug approaches such as biofeedback, relaxation, biostimulation, and food treatment is possible.

• Biofeedback

Electronic monitoring is used in biofeedback to assist people in learning how to manage specific bodily reactions, such as muscular tension.

• Relaxation treatment

Several relaxation techniques may be customized. Manual and massage treatment can be extremely beneficial for people with substantial neck stiffness or muscular tightness due to headaches.

One of the most effective methods for those who could have serious stress and sleep problems is mindfulness.
This method aids people in becoming more conscious of the triggers and habitual reactions that frequently result in the following headache.

Stroke and recurring Headaches

Your risk of having a stroke is increased if you have a migraine with aura. Women who use birth control pills have hormone replacement treatment or smoke should be especially aware of this as these factors might further increase your risk.

Work with your doctor to discover how you might reduce your stroke risk if you get migraines with aura. Also, remember that when a migraine appears, an aura often disappears. Seek immediate medical attention if it continues for more than an hour.