The Patient with Daily Headaches

The term “chronic daily headache” (CDH) describes a variety of headache types, of which chronic migraine is the most common. Daily headaches often are disabling and may be challenging to diagnose and treat. Medication overuse, or drug rebound headache, is the most treatable cause of refractory daily...

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Main Author: M. Maizels
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2005-12-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/414
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author M. Maizels
author_facet M. Maizels
author_sort M. Maizels
collection DOAJ
description The term “chronic daily headache” (CDH) describes a variety of headache types, of which chronic migraine is the most common. Daily headaches often are disabling and may be challenging to diagnose and treat. Medication overuse, or drug rebound headache, is the most treatable cause of refractory daily headache. A pathologic underlying cause should be considered in patients with recent-onset daily headache, a change from a previous headache pattern, or associated neurological or systemic symptoms. Treatment of CDH focuses on reduction of headache triggers and use of preventive medication, most commonly antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs, and beta blockers. Medication overuse must be treated with discontinuation of symptomatic medicines, a transitional therapy, and long-term prophylaxis. Anxiety and depression are common in patients with CDH and should be identified and treated. Although the condition is challenging, appropriate treatment of patients with CDH can bring about significant improvement in the patient's quality-of-life.
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series South African Family Practice
spelling doaj-art-021e4d62acdd4e81900c41ecce359db22025-08-20T03:44:02ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042005-12-01471010.1080/20786204.2005.10873304411The Patient with Daily HeadachesM. Maizels0Kaiser PermanenteThe term “chronic daily headache” (CDH) describes a variety of headache types, of which chronic migraine is the most common. Daily headaches often are disabling and may be challenging to diagnose and treat. Medication overuse, or drug rebound headache, is the most treatable cause of refractory daily headache. A pathologic underlying cause should be considered in patients with recent-onset daily headache, a change from a previous headache pattern, or associated neurological or systemic symptoms. Treatment of CDH focuses on reduction of headache triggers and use of preventive medication, most commonly antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs, and beta blockers. Medication overuse must be treated with discontinuation of symptomatic medicines, a transitional therapy, and long-term prophylaxis. Anxiety and depression are common in patients with CDH and should be identified and treated. Although the condition is challenging, appropriate treatment of patients with CDH can bring about significant improvement in the patient's quality-of-life.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/414chronic daily headachechronic migraine
spellingShingle M. Maizels
The Patient with Daily Headaches
South African Family Practice
chronic daily headache
chronic migraine
title The Patient with Daily Headaches
title_full The Patient with Daily Headaches
title_fullStr The Patient with Daily Headaches
title_full_unstemmed The Patient with Daily Headaches
title_short The Patient with Daily Headaches
title_sort patient with daily headaches
topic chronic daily headache
chronic migraine
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/414
work_keys_str_mv AT mmaizels thepatientwithdailyheadaches
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