Ask Dr. Armstrong: Can migraines become chronic?

Yes, migraines can become chronic. A chronic migraine is defined as a headache occurring on 15 or more days per month for more than three months, which has the features of migraine headache on at least 8 days per month. This condition can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. The transformation from episodic to chronic migraine is often influenced by factors such as overuse of headache medications, depression, anxiety, and other co-morbid conditions.