Approximately 75% of the American population suffer headaches each year. While most headaches are benign or harmless, there are headaches that are severe and dangerous. If you are worried about your headaches, you need to check with your doctor. Your doctor will try to diagnose the cause of your headaches, but in order to make an accurate diagnosis, he or she will need your help. Your doctor will greatly rely on your descriptions and patterns in order to ascertain the possible causes of your headaches.
It is a good idea to prepare your responses to possible questions that your doctor will ask you. Below are just some of the questions your doctor may ask you in order to make an accurate diagnosis about your headaches.
Question #1: How long have you been having these headaches?
If you have been suffering the same kind of headache for a long while, the more likely it is that your headaches are harmless or benign. Migraine sufferers will report having the headaches since their childhood, teenage or young adult years. Women who are about to start menopause may experience migraine less frequently although migraines can start during menopause too. Tension headaches, on the other hand, can happen anytime at any age.
Question #2: Does anyone in your family suffer from headaches?
Cluster headaches do not run in families, but migraines do.
Question #3: How frequent are the headaches?
Let your doctor know how many times you have headaches in a given day, month or year. This information can help your doctor prescribe the correct treatment: prophylactic (preventing the headaches from starting) or abortive (stopping a headache attack that is already in progress).
Question #4: Do your headaches occur more often or have their pattern changed?
Many people have been suffering from headaches for a few months to several years. Most see a doctor because the headaches have become more severe. Your doctor will try to find out what is making your headaches worse.
Question #5: Where is the pain usually located?
Your doctor will be able to diagnose what type of headache you have based on the location of the pain. For instance, you may have migraines if the pain is usually located in the temple area. Tension headaches are typically felt on one or both sides of the head, sometimes on the front, but more commonly in the neck, shoulder and back of the head. Cluster headache pain is always on one side of the head only, usually around the eye.
Question #6: What kind of pain accompanies your headaches?
Again, the kind of pain you experience with your headaches will greatly help your doctor determine the type of headache you have. If the pain is throbbing or pulsating, you may have migraine. Dull, dragging ache that often feels like you have a tight band around is descriptive of tension headaches. Cluster headache pain is deep and extremely painful, as if something sharp is being pushed into your eye.
Question #7: What other symptoms do you have with the headache?
Other symptoms for migraine include loss of appetite, feeling or being sick, and aversion to light or noise. Tension headache symptoms include a stiff or sore neck, teeth grinding at night and clenched jaw. Watery eye and stuffed nose are symptoms of cluster headaches.
Question #8: How long does your headache last?
Migraine headaches usually last no more than 24 hours. It can be as short as 20 minutes, and in rare cases, it can go on for weeks. Tension headaches usually last for days, weeks and in rare cases, years. Cluster headaches, on the other hand, occur for a short time, between 30 and 90 minutes and repeat two to six times during a "bout."
Question #9: Do your headaches occur at a specific time?
Migraine sufferers usually wake up with migraine in the morning, usually during weekends. In women, migraines normally occur a few days before the start of their menstrual period. Tension headaches usually occur during times of stress while cluster headaches happen at night, while the sufferer is in deep sleep.
Question #10: Does your mood change because of the headaches?
Migraine sufferers are usually withdrawn and irritable during a migraine attack and prefer to be alone. On the other hand, those who suffer from tension headache welcome care and attention during the headache attack. People suffering from cluster headache usually pace up and down, hold their head or make rocking motions during an attack.
People who suffer from headaches have a higher risk of developing depression. In some cases, depression can cause the headaches. Your doctor will look for symptoms of depression. If you are sleeping poorly, feel tired all time, do not have an appetite and have lost interest in sex, you may be suffering from depression in addition to the headaches.
Question #11: Do you get warning signs before a headache starts?
Approximately 15% of people who suffer from migraine say that they get an "aura" before a migraine attack. The aura can be in the form of dazzling lights or zig zagged lines. Some say that they feel numb or notice a distinctive odor just before a headache attack. Let your doctor know if you have an aura before a headache attack as well as if the aura continues on long after the headache is gone.
Question #12: Do you have an idea of what could be triggering your headaches?
Headaches and migraines can be triggered by anything. If you have already identified the things that trigger your headaches or migraines, let your doctor know. It is also a good idea to start a diary wherein you list down the food you have eaten and activities you engaged in during the day. You also take notes of the times you have headaches. Doing this can help your doctor determine what are triggering your headaches as well as what type of headache you have.
For more help on the prevention, treatment and remedies for migraines please see the Complete Guide To Migraine Headaches.
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