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.
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.
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:
Many of these conditions can be life-threatening. And some, such as aneurysms, require immediate medical care, as they can be fatal.
If you have chronic head pain that is not life-threatening, you could be having tension headaches, cluster headaches, or migraines.
Tension headaches are the most common, and they're caused when the neck and scalp muscles contract.
The cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but they can come and go several times a day.
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.
