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Chronic Migraine
Chronic migraine means having headaches on 15 or more days a month, with migraine features on many of them. A pain-management and preventive approach can reduce how often and how badly attacks strike.
Causes & risk factors
- A genetic tendency to migraine
- Frequent attacks becoming chronic over time
- Overuse of painkillers (medication-overuse headache)
- Poor sleep, stress and skipped meals
- Hormonal changes
- Untreated frequent migraine
Common symptoms
- Frequent throbbing headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Aura in some people
- Tiredness
- Difficulty concentrating
Tests & diagnosis
- Clinical diagnosis and headache diary
- MRI brain (if red flags)
Treatment & management
- Preventive medicines to reduce attack frequency
- Treating acute attacks early, without overusing painkillers
- Identifying and managing triggers
- Regular sleep, meals, hydration and stress management
- Specialist options such as certain injections for chronic migraine
When to see a doctor urgently
- A sudden "worst-ever" thunderclap headache — call your local emergency number now
- Headache with weakness, confusion, slurred speech or vision loss — call your local emergency number now
- A new headache with fever and a stiff neck
- Needing painkillers on most days, or a change in headache pattern
Frequently asked questions
Can taking too many painkillers make headaches worse?
Yes. Using painkillers or migraine medicines too often can cause medication-overuse headache, creating a cycle of frequent headaches. Managing this with a specialist is an important part of treatment.
What helps chronic migraine?
A preventive plan is key: regular preventive medicine, treating attacks early but not too often, managing triggers, and keeping steady sleep and meals. Specialist treatments are available for difficult cases.
Explore more
Sources & further reading
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- MedlinePlus — U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Reviewed by Dr. Sanjay Anbu, MBBS. MedDroid is an AI medical assistant and can make mistakes. It provides general health information, not a diagnosis or medical advice — always consult a qualified clinician. In an emergency, contact your local emergency number immediately.