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Consultancy corner: Early appointment with doctor advised for headache
Headache is a more common neurological problem. More than 80 percent of the population might be suffering from headache in their life. It has been always a misconception about the cause of headache as sinusitis, refractory eye problem, brain tumour, or stroke.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
Infact majority of the time headaches are due to recurrent primary headache types like migraine and tension headaches.
The brain itself is not a pain sensitive organ. Headache is due to pain sensitive structures like meninges, sinuses, dura and blood vessels abnormalities.
Headaches are classified into primary and secondary headaches.
Primary headaches are those in which headaches are theonly presentation. These are the most common and recurrent headache disorders. Migraine, tension headache and cluster headache are the most common primary headaches.
Migraine is the most common headache disorder. Its more common in adolescents and female adult. Visual aura is a visual zigzag coloured images or blurry images just before the headache phase.
Majority of times migraine is one-sided with changing sides throbbing, pulsatile headache character with vomiting sensation along with sensitivity to light and sound. Patients prefer to lie and sleep down in a quite room.
Tension headches may be experienced by both genders at the end of the day characterised by tight band pressing over scalp. Its a mild intensity headache which responds to treatment. Cluster headache occurs in elderly male with severe piercing pain on eyeball with redness and watering of eyes, and nose block sensation with difficulty to rest themselves.
Secondary headaches are those where headache is due to other conditions like head injury, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, tumour, meningitis, ENT and eye problems, face and teeth problems, drug related or systemic toxic headaches.Â
secondary headache are new onset headches which no one can afford to neglect the cause, and hence early recognition and treatment is mandatory to prevent complications.
When to contact your doctor
- Any changes in the type of your usual headaches
- Headaches that don’t go away or that get worse as each day passes
- Headaches that occur with physical activity (including sex)
- Headaches that happen after injury or illness
- Headaches accompanied by a fever, a stiff neck, signs of a stroke (such as difficulty in speaking, numbness, or weakness), seizures, or changes in your vision
- Worsening of your headache if you have to strain, as when having a bowel movement, sneezing, or coughing
- New headaches if you’re over 40
- Headaches associated with very high blood pressure (if you are checking it at home)
What triggers headaches
Lack of sleep, travel in sunlight, hunger, strong smell, certain food products, menstrual periods, use of hormonal treatment and family members having migraine.
Majority of times headache is a clinical diagnosis and therefore the imaging and blood parameters will be normal. Hence careful history taking and response to medications for migraine is of utmost importance.
Majority of the times headaches are due to primary headaches type which responds to a course of medical treatment. Secondary headaches are due to medical emergencies which needs imaging and appropriate headache specialist to diagnose and treat.Â
With careful monitoring and treatment one can avoid long time complications of migraine like vertigo, neck pain, vision loss, stroke, memory disturbances.Â
Early appointment with your family physician for headaches and referral to headache specialist for refractory headaches are of utmost importance.
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