A chronic daily headache does not necessarily occur every day, but does cause symptoms for at least half of any given month. MayoClinic.com reports that to be classified as chronic, headaches must occur for at least 15 days of the month over a period of at least three months. Chronic daily headaches include migraines, tension headaches, new daily persistent headache and hemicrania continua. Each has its own unique set of symptoms.
Head Pain
Every type of chronic daily headache causes some sort of head pain, as you would assume from the name. However, the type and quality of pain is often different for each kind of chronic headache. For instance, migraine pain is often pulsing, and tends to affect one side of the head or face. On the other hand, a tension type headache causes pain that feels like even pressure, usually on the back of the head or the neck. New persistent daily headache causes a similar type of even pressure on the head as a tension headache, however it does not usually involve the neck or shoulders. Hemicrania continua pain is characterized by constant head pain with occasional bouts of sudden, severe pain.
Sensitivity to Light and Sounds
While migraines are known to cause sensitivity to light and sound, this symptom may also be caused by other types of chronic daily headache. According to the Mayo Clinic, light and sound sensitivity can be present during both tension headaches and new persistent daily headache. However, they may not occur during every headache attack. Additionally, the Mayo Clinic states that the presence of other migraine-type symptoms may rule out the possibility for a headache to be diagnosed as anything other than a migraine. When a person is sensitive to light and sound, they may prefer a dark quiet space until their headache symptoms subside.
Nausea
Nausea is common during a migraine, but like light and sound sensitivity this migraine symptom may also occur during a tension headache or new persistent daily headache. According to MayoClinic.com, the nausea associated with these two types of headaches is typically mild, if it is present at all. Migraine sufferers, on the other hand, may experience more intense nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting.
Eye and Nose Symptoms
Hemicrania continua, the rarest of the four types of chronic daily headache, has its own unique set of symptoms that include the eyes and nose. According to MayoClinic.com, the eyes may become teary or the eyelids may droop during a hemicrania continua headache. They report that these symptoms usually occur on one side of the face, often the same side that is affected by the headache pain. Additionally, during a hemicrania continua attack, the nose may run or become congested. These symptoms do not occur during any of the other type of chronic daily headache.
