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Headache
Alternate Names : Pain - Head
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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
Your health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform an examination of your head, eyes, ears, nose, throat, neck, and nervous system.
The diagnosis is usually based on your history of symptoms. A "headache diary" may be helpful for recording information about headaches over a period of time. Your doctor may ask questions such as the following:
- Is the headache located in the forehead, around the eyes, in the back of the head, near the temples, behind the eyeball, or all over?
- Is the headache on one side only?
- Is this a new type of headache for you?
- Would you describe the headache as throbbing?
- Is there a pressure or band-like sensation?
- When does the headache occur? How long have you had headaches? How long does each headache last?
- Does the headache awaken you from sleep? Are the headaches worse during the day and better at night?
- Did other symptoms begin shortly after the headaches began? Do headaches occur repeatedly?
- Does the headache reach maximum intensity over 1 to 2 hours?
- Are the headaches worse when you are lying down? Standing up?
- Are the headaches worse when you cough or strain?
- Do they occur at a specific time related to your menstrual period?
- What home treatment have you tried? How effective was it?
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include the following:
If a migraine is diagnosed, medications that contain ergot may be prescribed. Temporal arteritis must be treated with steroids to help prevent blindness. Other disorders are treated as is appropriate.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Headache: Common Causes
• Headache: Home Care & Treatment
• Headache: Prevention
• Call your Health Care Provider if
• What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Aneurysm
• Classic Migraine
• Cluster Headaches
• Common Migraine
• Encephalitis
• Meningitis
• Primary Brain Tumor
• Reye's Syndrome
• Stroke
• Temporal Arteritis
• Tension Headache
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Tests & Exams
• Biopsy
• Cranial CT Scan
• CSF Collection
• MRI of the Head
• X-Ray
Other Topics
• Nasal Discharge
Review Date : 8/1/2003
Reviewed By : Jacqueline A. Hart, MD, Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (11/14/2002).
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