When You Should See A Doctor for Headaches

Most people get headaches occasionally. Sometimes, however, a headache can be a side effect of a more serious condition, such as a concussion or stroke. In this blog, David Wu, MD, discusses when it may be necessary to seek care for head pain.

When to seek emergency care

Most people get headaches here and there, and they’re often not a problem. However, some headaches can be a symptom of a serious issue. If you have a headache and also experience any of the following, seek emergency care right away.

• Dizziness, accompanied by weakness, a loss of balance, fainting, numbness, tingling, or paralysis 
• Cognitive issues, such as speech trouble, confusion, personality changes, odd behavior, or seizures 
• Blindness, double vision, or blind spots 
• Fever, shortness of breath, neck stiffness, or rashes
• Head pain that keeps you up at night 
• Headaches that are triggered by intense physical or sexual activity
• Headaches that are triggered by benign activities, such as coughing or bending

What can cause severe headaches

Many serious conditions can cause headaches. The only way to know for sure if a condition is causing your headache is to see a doctor. As mentioned, if you have a headache and experience any of the conditions above, you need to seek emergency care. Some of the potential causes could be any of the following:

• COVID-19
• Brain aneurysm
• Brain tumor
• Concussion
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Stroke 
• Blood clot in your brain
• Encephalitis
• Meningitis
• Toxoplasmosis
• Septic shock
• Panic attacks
• Glaucoma
• High blood pressure

Many of these conditions can be life-threatening. And some, such as aneurysms, require immediate medical care, as they can be fatal.

Treating headaches that are not life-threatening

If you have chronic head pain that is not life-threatening, you could be having tension headaches, cluster headaches, or migraines.

Tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most common, and they're caused when the neck and scalp muscles contract.

Cluster headaches

The cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but they can come and go several times a day.

Migraines

Experts aren’t completely sure what causes migraines, but they believe they’re associated with certain triggers, such as stress, fatigue, and hormonal changes.

To diagnose the kind of headaches you may be having, Dr. Wu will first ask you about your symptoms. Then he’ll go over your family history. Finally, he’ll perform a physical exam and comprehensive neurological assessment.

Once he diagnoses the cause of your headaches, he’ll develop a treatment plan to help reduce your symptoms and help you avoid any potential triggers. He may recommend pain-blocking injections, Botox® injections, or oral pain medication, among other treatments. 

If you have chronic headaches, David Wu, MD, can help you get relief. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with the office of David Wu, MD, today.