The essentials
What the diagnosis means
Clinicians use established criteria to distinguish chronic migraine from episodic migraine and other headache disorders. In general, chronic migraine involves headache on 15 or more days per month for more than three months, with migraine features on at least eight of those days. A qualified professional must interpret that pattern in the context of an individual medical history.
The experience is not simply a longer version of a single migraine attack. Headache intensity and associated symptoms may shift from day to day. Some days can include sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or other migraine features; other days may feel less typical.
Daily impact can extend beyond pain
Frequent symptoms may disrupt work, education, caregiving, sleep, relationships, and routine activities. Anxiety, low mood, and sleep problems can occur alongside chronic migraine, but their presence and severity differ. Other health conditions can also influence disability and treatment decisions.
Progression is not caused by one factor
Episodic migraine can become chronic through a combination of influences. Attack frequency, sleep disruption, stress, other health conditions, and patterns of acute medicine use may all be relevant. A careful review can help identify potentially modifiable factors without suggesting that the person is responsible for the disease.
Seek prompt assessment for a new or changed headache
A sudden, unusually severe, or significantly changed headache—and headache accompanied by concerning new neurological or systemic symptoms—needs timely medical evaluation. Emergency services may be appropriate depending on the circumstances.
