Persistent Daily Headaches

New persistent daily headaches (NPDH) can be a scary and difficult condition to develop. It is a form of chronic daily headache (CDH) that begins very abruptly. CDH refers to a number of headache types that occur more than 15 days in any given month. In the case of NPDH, these daily headaches develop over no more than a three-day period.

Common Symptoms

NPDHs have symptoms that are very similar to many other headache types. The pain is often located on both sides of the head, and has a pressing or tightening quality. The severity of most NPDHs is mild to moderate, though this is a highly subjective characteristic. Photophobia, phonophobia and mild nausea may also be present.

Diagnostic Criteria and Other Features

The International Headache Society (IHS) has a list of criteria that assist healthcare providers in recognizing and diagnosing NPDH. The first criteria is that the symptoms must develop rapidly, over 3 days or less. The headaches must be present daily, without getting better for at least 3 months. The headaches must have at least two of the following:

• a bilateral location (located on both sides of the head)
• a pressing/tightening (nonpulsating) quality
• a mild or moderate intensity
• and not be aggravated by routine physical activity, such as walking or climbing

And both of the following need to also be present:

• no more than one of photophobia, phonophobia or mild nausea
• neither moderate or severe nausea nor vomiting

The IHS also states that if a patient has had chronic tension headaches or migraine headaches in the past, they cannot have NPDH.

Treatment Strategies

Your healthcare provider can take many approaches to treating NPDH, but most likely he or she will use typical abortive treatments. This may involve over-the-counter or prescription medications. A form of NPDH eventually can resolve within several months without treatment, but be sure to discuss all treatment options with your healthcare provider.

_Source:

Silberstein SD. Chronic daily headache. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2005 Apr;105(4 Suppl 2):23S-29S