How to know if you need to visit a neurologist for your headache?

Are you experiencing a bad headache? Do you need to take medication to get some relief from the intense aches? One of the most common types of pain we often experience is a headache. These are common and can be sorted into different categories. While some experience them regularly, others might face them once or twice a month. So, do you need to make an appointment with the neurologist?

Not all headaches need a neurologist!

Headaches are a common discomfort or pain that often causes disturbance in our daily life. If you have headaches once or maybe twice per month and medicines counter the pain, there is no need for a doctor's visit. However, if you have headaches four or more times in a month and it causes significant disruption in your life, it is time for a visit to the neurologist.

Signs that alert you to visit a neurologist

There are several symptoms that indicate the need to visit a neurologist. These are –

1. The headache continues for a day or even more

2. Experience seizures

3. Straining increases the intensity of the pain

4. The sudden appearance of the headaches

5. Vision problems of changes

6. The headache usually occurs in the morning (early)

How to know if the headache is an emergency?

Sometimes, headaches are side effects or symptoms of other critical issues. That is why you also need to keep an eye on other signs. These are -

• Worst headache that you have ever endured

• Slurred speech

• Confusion

• Sudden vomiting without any reason

• Unequal sizes of the pupils

• Tremors

• Difficulty in speaking

• Not understanding others

• Feeling numbness in the face

• Vision issues

• Dropping eyelid

These are some signs that suggest the occurrence of life-threatening or even highly severe issues. You need to get in touch with a medical professional immediately.

What to say to the doctors?

Now that you have made the doctor’s appointment, you need to make sure that you take notes. You can expect the medical professional to ask you a series of questions. Remember that you need to be honest and refrain from hiding anything.

Take a look at the questions that you may have to answer –

1. When do the headaches start?

2. How do you usually get rid of the headaches?

3. Does taking medications help to get rid of them?

4. Does light or sound cause distress when you are having a headache?

5. Do you experience black spots or blurriness during the headaches?

6. Do you sleep well if you don’t have headaches?

7. What are the activities that you were involved in before the headache started?

8. What food or liquids you have ingested before getting the headache?

Besides, if you have previous diagnoses or treatments done due to head pains, do share them with the present medical expert.

Diagnostic tests

There are multiple diagnostic procedures that enable the doctor to adopt the correct treatment procedure. These diagnostic tests are –

• Physical examination: It includes inspecting the head, shoulders, and neck of the patient minutely and understanding the pain pathways.

• Family history: Knowing more about family members that experience similar headaches is crucial. In some cases, you might have a migraine and some of them are genetic-based.

• Blood tests: In order to exclude infections or other health issues, medical experts prescribe different blood tests. That way, it can eliminate potential causes.

Get treatment for headaches!

If the headaches refuse to go away or cause severe pain, it is better to consult a neurologist at medipulse hospital jodhpur for a much better and fast result. The medical specialist will conduct different diagnostic tests and determine the cause of the headache. With the proper treatment, you can get rid of the pain and live your life worry-freely.

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