Do you ever feel an annoying, dull pain in the head that never seems to go away?
Dull and diffuse ache in the head in CDH
Chronic Daily Headache (CDH) is a term used to describe headaches that last for more than 4 hours, often exceeding 15 days each month. CDH is very disabling, and usually occurs in middle aged populations (30-40s). Patients often complain of a diffuse, dull ache in the head, and affects about 4% of the population.
There are different types of CDH, and these may include:
- Chronic migraine
- Chronic tension-type headache
- New daily persistent headache
- Hemicrania continua
Click here to find out more about the different types of CDH.
Risk factors and causes of CDH
- head injury
- a previous history of migraine
- female
- overuse of medications
- obesity
- stress
- depression
- high consumption of caffeine
- sleep disturbances
- snoring
In a 2001 study, Dr Scher compared CDH patients with a group of patients who experience episodic headaches. The results of the study showed that female patients were more likely to develop CDH. Patients with a higher BMD, and co-morbidities are also more likely to experience CDH.
The study also concluded that caffeine is a contributing factor to patients who suffer from CDH. In comparison to the episodic headache group, CDH patients appeared to have much higher caffeine consumption. This is especially evident in:
- women who are under 40 years of age
- patients with CDH who had not consulted health professionals
- migraine sufferers
If you would like to read more about the study, click here.
Treatment
There are many ways to help you manage chronic daily headache. Consult a health professional (headache/migraine expert) for appropriate treatment methods, as studies have shown that consistent, long-term management may help reduce pain. Sometimes, psychological counselling, may also help patients who suffer from anxiety or depression, to deal with CDH.
References
Johns Hopkins Medicine,. (2017). Chronic Headaches. Hopkinsmedicine.org. Retrieved 18 February 2017, from http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/nervous_system_disorders/chronic_daily_headache_22,chronicdailyheadache/
Mayo Clinic Staff,. (2017). Chronic daily headaches Symptoms – Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 18 February 2017, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-daily-headaches/basics/symptoms/con-20025386
Migraine Trust,. (2017). Chronic daily headache – The Migraine Trust. The Migraine Trust. Retrieved 18 February 2017, from https://www.migrainetrust.org/about-migraine/types-of-migraine/other-headache-disorders/chronic-daily-headache/
