Headaches may be a sign of something more serious, claims doctor

Headaches are such a pain

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Everyone knows how debilitating a headache can be.

More often than not our first instinct is to simply pop a paracetamol, hydrate and carry on with our day.

However, a doctor has urged people to be more wary when suffering from headaches, as multiple headaches could be a sign of something far more serious.

Michael Munger, a primary-care physician from Overland Park in Kansas, was shocked to discover the number of people he treats who ignore their headaches when they arise, simply choosing to grin and bear the pain.

Munger believes that people should pay closer attention when experiencing headaches, as they could indicate that an individual is suffering from conditions such as brain tumours or aneurysms.

“You don’t want people to overreact, but you also don’t want them to underreact,” he told The Washington Post.

The three most common types of headaches that people experience are tension headaches, sinus headaches and migraines.

However, it’s not just the severity of their headaches that people should become more aware of.

Noting how often you’re struck down by a headache could also be an indication of whether you need to seek medical advice.

Munger believes that if a person has more than two headaches a week for longer than a fortnight, then they should have themselves checked by a medical professional.

If you believe your frequent headaches warrant a doctor’s visit, then there are a number of factors you should consider beforehand so that you can provide your doctor with all the information they need to give you a comprehensive evaluation.

By making a note of when your headaches occur, you may be able to figure out what your triggers are.

These could include things like eating specific kinds of food, not drinking enough water, being on your period and not having a sufficient amount of sleep.

Pinpointing exactly where you can feel the pain caused by a headache could also help you doctor assess what kind of headache you have.

Tension headaches “start at the back of the head, then radiate up and over the crown,” Munger explains.

Sinus headaches, on the other hand, usually affect the face around the eyes, while migraines often cause pain at a specific point on one side of the head in addition to nausea and blind spots.

Other symptoms, such as numbness, nausea and memory problems could be a sign of an underlying serious condition.