When to Seek Medical Care

Consult a doctor about your headache and find out what can be done for pain relief in these situations:

• You have a chronic medical illness such as high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack or stroke, diabetes, or liver problems.
  
  
• You are not obtaining relief with over-the-counter pain medications.
  
  
• You are taking any other prescription or nonprescription medications.
  
  
• There is any change in the normal pattern of your headache.
  
  
• You have a new type of headache that you never had before.
  
  
• You have pain in your face or eyes.
  
  
• You have a very severe headache.

Although headaches are very common, they may be a sign of serious disease that warrants immediate medical attention. Go to an emergency department if any of the following symptoms occur:

• Severe pain
  
  
• Pain that develops very rapidly
  
  
• A change in concentration or ability to think
  
  
• A change in level of alertness
  
  
• Altered speech
  
  
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty walking
  
  
• Changes in vision
  
  
• Headache with a stiff neck or neck pain, or if light hurts your eyes
  
  
• Worst headache of your life
  
  
• Headache with dizziness, room spinning, or falling to one side
  
  
• Headache from an injury or blow to the head
  
  
• Headache with fever (over 100.4°F or 38°C when taken by mouth)

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Headache - Effective Treatments

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