Timing Headaches & Why Same-Time Every Day Headaches Are Common

At times, headaches occur suddenly and without warning. However, other people experience headaches that occur at nearly the same time every day. Both cluster headaches and tension headaches can happen in this type of recurrent manner and really impact a person’s daily life. Here is why some individuals experience cluster headaches and tension headaches around the same time every day and the types of things that may trigger this recurring pain. Read on to learn about what it means if you have headaches every day and what treatment options are available.

Daily Recurring Cluster Headaches

One of the characteristics of cluster headaches that distinguishes them from other types is that these headaches happen every day or near-daily. Some people experience cluster headaches every other day or three or four times in a single day as well. They’ve actually been referred to as “alarm clock headaches” because of their timing regularity. The most common time that cluster headaches strike is in the early morning hours or within a few hours of falling asleep. Not only do cluster headaches tend to happen at the same time of day, but also at the same time of the year in subsequent years.

Daily Recurring Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are far more common than cluster headaches and also frequently occur at regular intervals throughout the day. This type of headache tends to occur on a daily basis due to medication withdrawal. Individuals who rely on painkillers and take them at scheduled times may experience headaches when that medication begins to wear off. People with chronic tension-type headaches often have headaches daily or near-daily headaches for a period of several years.

Triggers for Recurring Headaches Every Day

Changes in sleep patterns can trigger headaches, so it’s important to keep a regular sleep schedule to prevent them as much as possible. Continued and ongoing stress is also a major contributing factor for headaches, so individuals must find healthy and effective ways to manage stress for headache prevention. Smoking and alcohol are known triggers of cluster headaches, and many people have a habitual routine of when they have drinks and cigarettes during the day. By eliminating tobacco and alcohol from one’s life, those headache triggers are eliminated as well. Artificial lighting in the office, sun glare while commuting home from work, and a lack of physical activity can all be triggers for tension headaches that happen at regular times each day.

Everyday Relief for Daily Headache Sufferers

Since pain medications can be very addictive, it’s important to not solely rely on it for relief long-term and on a daily basis. Powerful pain relievers like Vanquish, for example, are recommended for use up to eight caplets in 24 hours. More than this dosage is not advised unless directed by a doctor. For long-term headache pain management, it may be beneficial to try natural and alternative remedies to support the effects of medication. Acupuncture, massage, tai chi, and meditation may help to alleviate the stress and tension that causes headaches to happen at the same time every day. It may also be necessary to adjust one’s diet to include more headache-fighting foods, like cherries, spinach, and fish, into daily meals eaten at regular intervals.