When to See a Doctor for Your Headache
Understanding headaches
Understanding the pattern of your headaches is important as it allows your doctor to determine the cause and suggest an appropriate treatment. Headaches can develop with varying intensity – some develop quickly while others evolve gradually. While some headaches may fade off in an hour or so, some may bother you for days.
Fortunately, most headaches aren’t the result of a serious illness. However, some headaches may be a side effect of a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. If you haven’t found the help you need to manage your headaches, it may be time to see a specialist.
Types of Headaches
As there are more than 200 different varieties of headaches, your doctor’s diagnosis will be based on a physical examination and review of your medical history. Headaches are classified into 2 main types: primary and secondary. Primary headaches are not caused by underlying conditions, whereas secondary headaches are a result of one.
Primary headaches
The most common forms of primary headaches include migraine, cluster headaches, sinus headaches and tension headaches.
Migraine headaches
Migraines are a common cause of disability worldwide. Migraine symptoms include pounding, throbbing pain, and in many cases, nausea, vomiting and light sensitivity.
Migraine headaches can last from 2 – 72 hours and can occur multiple times a month. In some cases, migraines may be preceded by a warning symptom, also known as an aura.
Tension headaches
Tension headaches, the most common type of headache, occur when the muscles in your neck and head contract or become tense. With tension headaches, you may feel as though a tight band is wrapped around your head. The pain is usually mild to moderate in intensity. You may also feel tenderness in your scalp, neck and shoulders.
Some activities that may trigger tension headaches include poor posture, stress, anxiety and fatigue.
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches are one of the most severe types of pain that you can experience. With cluster headaches, you will feel intense burning or ทางเข้า UFABET สำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ สมัครวันนี้ รับโบนัสฟรี piercing pain behind or around your eyes, temples and even your back. Besides pain, you may also get red or swollen eyes and a runny nose.
Such headaches are termed “cluster” headaches because they tend to occur in groups – you might get them several times a day for a period of days to weeks, which may then disappear for months or years, only to come back later.