Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
New daily persistent headache (NDPH) causes distinct periods ofcontinuing headache painand other symptoms. A very rareprimary headache disorder, meaning it occurs independently of other health issues, NDPH can resemble other types of headache, such as chronicmigraineortension headache, among others.Onset is sudden, and people with this condition are generally able to pinpoint when they began experiencing it.
The exact cause of new daily persistent headaches is unknown, though they often occur along with certain infections, includingEpstein Barr virus (EBV)among others.Diagnosis may involve blood work, imaging,spinal tap, or other tests to rule out other causes of symptoms. Treatment approaches vary and depend on whether symptoms are more like a migraine or tension headache.
Read on to learn more about NDPH, how it’s identified and treated, as well as what it’s like to cope with this condition.
Verywell / Jiaqi Zhou
New Daily Persistent Headache Symptoms
What makes new daily persistent headache difficult to diagnose is that its symptoms can resemble other types of primary headache disorders, especially migraine,medication overuse headache(also known as rebound headache), and tension headaches. When resembling migraine, NPHD causes:
The severity of this condition ranges from person to person, with some only experiencing milder, tension headaches. These cases often exhibit non-throbbing or -pounding head pain on both sides of the head.
Notably, several features distinguish NDPH from other headaches and help clinically define the condition. These include:
This inflammatory response may be the reason why certain viral and bacterial infections are associated with a significant portion of—though not all—cases. These include infections with:
Higher Risk PopulationsStressful events may sometimes trigger NDPH, and, though all people can develop it, women are 3 times as likely as men to experience the condition. Nearly half of those with this type of headache have close relatives with it, indicating a genetic component as well.
Higher Risk Populations
Stressful events may sometimes trigger NDPH, and, though all people can develop it, women are 3 times as likely as men to experience the condition. Nearly half of those with this type of headache have close relatives with it, indicating a genetic component as well.
Diagnosing New Daily Persistent Headache
As with other primary headache disorders, ruling out other causes of symptoms is often the most important aspect of diagnosis. Along with chronic migraine or chronic tension headache, new daily persistent headache can resemble several other conditions.
To rule out these conditions as the cause of the persistent headaches, several types of tests may be performed:
The challenge with new daily persistent headaches is that there’s no single treatment approach. Management is often multifaceted, and—because the symptoms are continuous—medications used for other headache types may not be effective.The use of too much such medicine can lead to cases ofmedication overuse headache (MOH), which actually causes the pain to worsen.
Notably, the course of treatment can also vary based on whether the disorder is more like a migraine or more like a tension headache. Generally, NDPH is treated with a combination of methods, with patients getting help from headache and pain specialists.
Preventative Medications
Several kinds of drugs prescribed for NDPH are also used to treat migraines. Among these are:
Also used in chronic migraine cases, injections of botulinum toxin A (Botox injection) in certain parts of the temples, head, and neck and provide lasting pain relief.This therapy can be very effective, although repeat sessions (every three or so months) are necessary.
Avoiding Medication Overuse HeadacheMedications to manage the pain directly, such asnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),opioids, should be used sparingly. MOH can arise, as can dependency on some medications.Let your doctor know if you’re taking anything to ease the pain more than twice a week.
Avoiding Medication Overuse Headache
Medications to manage the pain directly, such asnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),opioids, should be used sparingly. MOH can arise, as can dependency on some medications.Let your doctor know if you’re taking anything to ease the pain more than twice a week.
Biofeedback and Relaxation Techniques
Since stress is closely associated with headaches and headache severity, other approaches focus on easing stress and promoting relaxation. Biofeedback devices measure physical signs of tension and strain to let users know when these symptoms are on the rise and prevent them.Breathing exercises and meditation can also help with chronic pain.
What Is Meditation?
Lifestyle Changes
Ensuring that you get good andconsistent sleep, get regular exercise, and eat a healthy and balanced diet can also help manage NDPH.These types of changes are frequently recommended alongside medications or other therapies. They’ve been shown to help with a wide range of chronic pain and headache problems.
Because the symptoms of new daily persistent headaches are continuous, this condition can be very debilitating. Clinically, cases are divided into those that eventually resolve, usually within 24 months, and those that are refractory, or resistant to treatment. Research suggests that patients experience NDPH for an average of 3.3 years. However, many have it for five or even 10 or more.
While there is not a one-size-fits-all fix for this condition, consistent treatment with medications and lifestyle adjustments lets many people manage and live well with new daily persistent headaches. Most see eventual improvement of their symptoms.
Coping With New Daily Persistent Headache
There’s no denying that living with chronic pain can have a very debilitating impact on mental health. As with chronic migraines (defined as 14 or more headache attacks per month), those with new persistent daily headache have higher rates ofanxiety,depression, andsomatic symptom disorder(a condition that causes physical symptoms in response to psychological stress).Notably, the relationship between psychological and physical health is two-sided in which one can impact the other.
Living with this condition means not only managing the headaches but also taking on these related issues. Several strategies can help:
What Is a Support Group?
Summary
Diagnosis may involve imaging and blood tests, with treatment approaches varying from case to case. Antiepileptic and tricyclic antidepressants are among the types of medications prescribed, with lifestyle modifications and relaxation techniques rounding out therapy for this potentially debilitating condition.
A Word From Verywell
There’s no doubt that new daily persistent headache is challenging. By nature, it arises without warning, the pain lingers, and there’s no set treatment for it. That said, with medical management—as well as the aid of family, friends, and the broader community—the symptoms and burden of this condition can be eased.
Our understanding of this and other primary headache disorders is still growing. Treatments and therapies for NDPH will continue to improve with time and research. Not only is help already there for you, but more is on the way.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Migraine Foundation.New daily persistent headache.Yamani N, Olesen J.New daily persistent headache: a systematic review on an enigmatic disorder.J Headache Pain. 2019;20(1). doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1022-zTepper D.New daily persistent headache.Headache: J Head Face Pain. 2016;56(7):1249-1250. doi:10.1111/head.12831Uniyal R, Paliwal V, Tripathi A.Psychiatric comorbidity in new daily persistent headache: a cross-sectional study.Euro J Pain. 2017;21(6):1031-1038. doi:10.1002/ejp.1000American Psychological Association.Coping with chronic pain.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Migraine Foundation.New daily persistent headache.Yamani N, Olesen J.New daily persistent headache: a systematic review on an enigmatic disorder.J Headache Pain. 2019;20(1). doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1022-zTepper D.New daily persistent headache.Headache: J Head Face Pain. 2016;56(7):1249-1250. doi:10.1111/head.12831Uniyal R, Paliwal V, Tripathi A.Psychiatric comorbidity in new daily persistent headache: a cross-sectional study.Euro J Pain. 2017;21(6):1031-1038. doi:10.1002/ejp.1000American Psychological Association.Coping with chronic pain.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Migraine Foundation.New daily persistent headache.Yamani N, Olesen J.New daily persistent headache: a systematic review on an enigmatic disorder.J Headache Pain. 2019;20(1). doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1022-zTepper D.New daily persistent headache.Headache: J Head Face Pain. 2016;56(7):1249-1250. doi:10.1111/head.12831Uniyal R, Paliwal V, Tripathi A.Psychiatric comorbidity in new daily persistent headache: a cross-sectional study.Euro J Pain. 2017;21(6):1031-1038. doi:10.1002/ejp.1000American Psychological Association.Coping with chronic pain.
American Migraine Foundation.New daily persistent headache.
Yamani N, Olesen J.New daily persistent headache: a systematic review on an enigmatic disorder.J Headache Pain. 2019;20(1). doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1022-z
Tepper D.New daily persistent headache.Headache: J Head Face Pain. 2016;56(7):1249-1250. doi:10.1111/head.12831
Uniyal R, Paliwal V, Tripathi A.Psychiatric comorbidity in new daily persistent headache: a cross-sectional study.Euro J Pain. 2017;21(6):1031-1038. doi:10.1002/ejp.1000
American Psychological Association.Coping with chronic pain.
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