Headache

Headache is one of the most common reasons a patient comes to see a neurologist.  Headache is a ubiquitous symptom that affects virtually all people at one time, and usually very many times.  Some people, however, have headaches that go beyond the everyday variety.

Headache can be a disease itself, but also may occur as a symptom of another disease.

Diseases that may cause headache are those which place abnormal material into the skull.  Examples are brain tumors. hemorrhages, infections, and excess cerebrospinal fluid.  Sinus and eye disease may produce headaches.

Headaches may occur without and underlying causative disease.  The most common types are migraine, tension, cluster, and cervical headache.

The neurologist can distinguish the type of headache a patient is having, and properly diagnose it as a primary headache, or that resulting because of another underlying disease.  Once the proper headache type is diagnosed, the neurologist can then prescribe the most appropriate and effective medication to relieve the headaches.