Daily Headaches: 4 Signs That You Should See A Neurologist
When going through a daily routine, a headache can be distracting, painful, and hard to deal with. If you find yourself dealing with daily headaches, then there may be an underlying cause that is causing the initial problem. Instead of just taking over the counter medicine to help treat the headache, you may have to take things one step further and make an appointment with a neurologist. These doctors deal primarily with brain and spinal issues. Along with the headaches, there are four additional signs to look for before deciding to make an appointment. If any of these signs are present with your daily headaches, then a consultation appointment will be your first step in getting the proper treatment that you deserve.
Eye Symptoms
When headache symptoms expand from just the head, there is a typically a sign that you are dealing with more problematic headache issues. One area to be aware of is your eye. As you suffer through a headache, pay attention to the actions of your eyes. You may find that your eyes are more teary, red, or swollen. If this is the case, then you may be dealing with a headache disorder known as a cluster headache. The source of the headache may feel like it is located just behind one of your eyes and include a burning sensation in both of them. As these headaches return, they can become more severe and painful. To help treat them, a neurologist can perform exams and scans on your head and spine. This will help determine the cause of the cluster headaches and help set up an ideal treatment plan. Treatment for these headaches includes ways to lessen the pain, because there is not direct way to cure them. Medicine injections may used to directly relieve pain and lessen the symptoms. A neurologist will select the best treatment plan and medicines based on your personal health history.
Neck Pain
Along with your headaches, you may feel a pinching or pain in your neck. These pains can be associated with your headache through a specific disorder known as a tension-type headache. Instead of originating in the head, it can be the specific condition of your neck that is causing the tension issues. The injured neck could be placing pressure on blood vessels or nerves that are then causing the headaches to occur. During a neurology appointment, a doctor will examine your neck and help you with treatments to help heal the neck and limit the headaches that you've been suffering with.
Nausea & Stomach Pain
Headache symptoms are typically isolated to areas above the shoulders, but in some cases you may find that you're dealing with nausea and stomach pain each time a headache strikes. This additional symptom can make it hard to completely daily tasks or functions at work. In most cases, the association between headaches and nausea is related to migraines. Migraines can be very painful headaches and worsen overtime. If you're experiencing the stomach pains with these headaches, then you should make an appointment before they get worse. A neurologist can help treat the pain and limit the migraines that you've been suffering. As a part of your appointment, you may undergo tests like an MRI to see a full scan of your brain.
Morning Headaches
A number of headaches may be associated with the specific time of day that they occur. For example, you may find that you are constantly getting headaches when you wake up in the morning. This can be due to a number of factors including medications and your diet. Certain medications can cause the onset of headaches instead of actually treating them. Specific diets that include caffeinated drinks may also induce a headache if your body craves or is lacking the specific substance. Instead of relying on the medications or diet changes, a neurologist can help you adjust your lifestyle to eliminate the morning headaches. It's a great way to start each day with a clear mind and remove the pain that comes every morning.
When you have a headache, it may be hard to focus on any other issues, but recognizing other symptoms can go a long way in treating your problems. For more information, contact a local neurologist or go to this website.