{"id":627568,"date":"2024-04-11T09:30:49","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T13:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=627568"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:01:13","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:01:13","slug":"counseling-patients-with-chronic-headaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/counseling-patients-with-chronic-headaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Counseling patients with chronic headaches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everyone gets a headache from time to time. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 50%–75% of adults have had at least one headache in the past year. However, some people get headaches more frequently. <\/span>Headaches are considered chronic<\/span><\/a> if you experience 15 or more headache episodes per month for at least three months. Chronic headaches affect <\/span>1.7%–4%<\/span><\/a> of adults globally, also according to the WHO.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people with recurrent headaches rely on over-the-counter (OTC) medications. In the U.S. and U.K., only half of people with migraines have seen a healthcare provider for their headaches in the past year, and only two-thirds have been diagnosed correctly, per the WHO. However, OTC pain relievers may not be the best solution for chronic headaches—and overuse of these medications can make headaches worse.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a pharmacist, you have an opportunity to help people find relief or refer them to a healthcare provider when appropriate. Pharmacists can suggest non-pharmacological and over-the-counter treatments to patients deemed eligible for self-care. This article aims to help pharmacists refresh their knowledge to effectively counsel patients on how to manage chronic headaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of headache<\/span><\/h2>\n

When patients seek your advice on how to treat chronic headaches, ask about their symptoms and where their head hurts. Ask how often they experience headaches and what they think is causing them. Gathering this information may help determine the <\/span>type of headache<\/span><\/a>, which can guide your treatment or referral recommendations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Headache disorders are either primary or secondary. Primary headache disorders have no other cause, while secondary headaches can be attributed to another condition or cause, and the headache is just a symptom. Regardless of whether they are primary or secondary, most headaches fall into one of three main categories: tension headache, migraine headache, or cluster headache.<\/span><\/p>\n