Headache it is common and can attack anyone just. But if it doesn't go away and is accompanied by symptoms,-symptom else, this headache should be aware. It could be that this type of headache is caused by a serious medical condition.
Generally, headaches will go away on their own and don't make you need to see a doctor. However, see a neurologist immediately if your headaches come on too often, make you have to take long-term headache medication, or are accompanied by certain symptoms.
Sign-TYou have a headache that needs to be checked by a neurologist
If your headache doesn't go away, it's a good idea to immediately see a neurologist. Likewise, if the headache is accompanied by certain symptoms. Here are some signs and symptoms of a dangerous headache to watch out for:
- Headaches that make you lose balance or coordination of body movements.
- Headaches that appear suddenly and feel very heavy.
- Headache accompanied by other symptoms, such as confusion, loss of consciousness or fainting, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, stiff neck, and/or fever.
- Headaches occur more than twice a week.
- Headache with difficulty breathing, chest pain, or an irregular heartbeat.
- Headaches that recur or get worse when coughing, or in certain body positions, such as lying down or sitting.
- Headache with seizures.
- Headaches in patients over 50 years of age.
- Headaches accompanied by loss of control or weakness in body parts, such as not being able to speak fluently, one side of the body becoming difficult to move or paralyzing.
- Headaches that don't go away or get worse even after being treated with medication.
- Headaches that occur after a head injury.
- Headache gets worse within 24 hours.
- Severe headache accompanied by redness in one eye and visual disturbances.
- Headache with weight loss.
- Headaches that interfere with daily activities.
- Headaches in people with certain diseases, such as cancer or HIV/AIDS.
The check-up Ddo a neurologist
During the consultation, the doctor will take a history of complaints and other accompanying symptoms, as well as perform a physical examination. Be sure to note and remember the characteristics of the headache, such as when the headache occurred, its severity, duration, and whether any other symptoms occurred before or at the same time as the headache.
After studying the symptoms and history of the disease you have suffered, the doctor will perform a neurological examination, such as examining the sensory nerves (assessing whether the body is still sensitive to stimuli such as pain or touch stimuli), hearing, vision, nerve reflexes, and the strength of body movements.
Investigations, such as a CT scan, MRI or PET scan of the head, an EEG (electroencephalogram), or a cerebrospinal fluid examination, may also be done to find out the cause of your headache.
Even though it is common, headaches that are severe or getting worse, and accompanied by some of the symptoms as mentioned above should immediately be consulted by a neurologist, because it may indicate a serious illness.
