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Headache (cont.)

When should patients with headache seek medical care?

A patient should seek medical care if their headache is:

  • The "worst headache of your life"

  • Different than your usual headaches

  • Starts suddenly or is aggravated by exertion, coughing, bending over, or sexual activity

  • Associated with persistent nausea and vomiting

  • Associated with fever or stiff neck

  • Associated with seizures

  • Associated with recent head trauma or a fall

  • Associated with changes in vision, speech, or behavior

  • Associated with weakness or change in sensation

  • Not responding to treatment and is getting worse

  • Requires more than the recommended dose of over-the-counter medications for pain

  • Disabling and interfering with work and quality of life

Headache At A Glance

  • The head is one of the most common sites of pain in the body.

  • The most common types of headache can be classified as 1) primary, 2) secondary, and 3) cranial neuralgias, facial pain, and other headaches.

  • The most common types of primary headaches are 1) tension, 2) migraine, and 3) cluster.

  • Tension headaches are the most common type of primary headache and usually are treated with over-the-counter medications for pain

  • Secondary headaches are a symptom of an injury or an underlying illness.

  • Patients should seek medical care for new onset headaches, fever, stiff neck, change in behavior, vomiting, weakness or change in sensation.

References: International Headache Society, "The Classification," http://ihs-classification.org/en/02_klassifikation/

Previous contributing author and editor: Dennis Lee, MD and Harley I. Kornblum, MD, PhD


Last Editorial Review: 9/30/2008


Headache - Effective Treatments

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