What Causes Headaches Every Day?

Headaches are generally caused by two biological phenomena: muscular contractions around the head and neck, or due to blood vessel irregularities that affect blood flow to the head.  But these are not the only reasons for every day headaches.  Chronic headaches, in rare cases, can be caused by a serious illness like brain tumors or meningitis.  This is why one should never allow chronic headaches to go unchecked.  Knowing the reason of what causes headaches every day can help in preventing or treating these headaches. 

Everyday Headaches Caused By Muscular Contraction

Muscular contractions can cause headaches in different ways.  These mechanisms include:

  • Muscular nerve compression due to improper body posture,
  • Misalignment of the spine
  • physical and mental stress
  • nerve disturbance due to increased levels of metabolic wastes in the blood and lymph (caused by an unhealthy diet or disturbance in the digestive system)

Everyday Headaches Caused By Blood Vessel Irregularities

Headaches due to blood vessel irregularities include cluster headaches, migraines, and withdrawal headaches.  The sharp pain that causes vascular headaches is because of the irregular dilation and contraction of the arteries of the head which puts strain on arterial nerves.

Serious Symptoms Of Everyday Headaches

Headaches that happen every day should be taken seriously, especially if the pain is accompanied by other symptoms like:

  • Persistent headache that progressively worsens with every occurrence
  • Dramatic changes in the intensity of the headaches
  • A constant headache without relief or for extremely long periods
  • Multiple occurrence of headache within a week (3 or more)
  • Sudden chronic migraine attacks that suddenly occur, especially if the  patient is over 50 years old doesn’t have a history of migraine
  • Weakness
  • Double vision or blurred vision
  • Sudden motor and speech difficulties
  • Loss of sensation in some parts of the body
  • Memory lapses, changes in personality/behavior, confusion
  • Chronic or severe nausea
  • Sudden unbearable headaches

If any of the symptoms occurs, immediately consult your family doctor or a neurologist.

While biological conditions may make you more prone to headaches, it’s the triggers that stimulate the attack.  To avoid headaches, you must watch out for certain triggers like:

  • Stress
  • Sudden changes in temperature
  •  Rapid hormonal changes caused by premenstrual syndrome, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, or birth control pills
  • Unhealthy lifestyle like lack of sleep, bad eating habits like skipping meals or eating junk food, smoking or exposure to second hand smoke, inadequate water intake 
  • Food triggers like foods with high MSG content, preservatives, and processed food
  • Withdrawal from addictive substances like caffeine, nicotine or alcohol

What causes headaches everyday is usually a combination of biology and the environment.  If you already have the factors that make you predisposed to having a headache everyday, make sure you avoid the things that can trigger the pain.  Always remember that preventing pain is better than treating it and leaving pain untreated can cause serious health complications.