Should I See a Doctor?

Most headaches may not be serious and will resolve themselves given time, home remedies or over-the-counter medications, like Tylenol. However, there are times when headaches are indications that your body is in need of medical attention. Some of us may have reservations about scheduling an appointment with our doctors or visiting the ER (e.g., “It’s JUST a headache.”), but according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the following symptoms warrant an appointment with your physician:

● You have more than just the occasional headache
● Your headaches are severe or come on quickly
● Your headache is accompanied by confusion, dizziness, fever, numbness, persistent vomiting, shortness of breath, slurred speech, stiff neck, diarrhea, vision loss, weakness or unpredictable symptoms affecting your ears, nose, throat or eyes.
● You have a headache that persists for 72 hours, with no more than a 4-hour pain-free window during waking hours, or a headache that continues to get worse
● Your headaches began after a head injury or other trauma and have continued.

According to the American Headache Society, headache sufferers should remember the acronym “SNOOP” when determining whether their headaches warrant medical attention, which stands for:

Systemic symptoms and Secondary risk factors: In addition to your headache, if you feel symptoms in other parts of your body, including fever, loss of appetite or weight loss, or if you have a headache in addition to HIV, cancer or other disorder, call your doctor immediately.

Neurologic symptoms: If you have headache accompanied by confusion, blurry vision, personality changes, weakness on one side of the body, numbness or sharp facial pain, you should seek medical attention.

Onset: If your headache comes on suddenly without warning or typical trigger, seek immediate medical attention. These headaches are sometimes called “thunderclap” headaches and can indicate bleeding in the brain.

Older: While headaches could be a sign of a larger medical problem at any age, if you are older than 50 and experience a new or progressive headache, you should call a doctor. Headache sufferers who are 50 or older are at higher risk for tumors and giant cell arteritis, which could cause a headache.

Progression: If your headache is significantly different from your regular headaches, increase in frequency, or you describe it as the worst headache you’ve ever had, seek immediate medical attention.