Vijayan performs a neurological examination and other tests to determine if any other illness could be causing the headaches. Some patients are nervous about these tests, fearing that severe headaches are caused by a brain tumor. Usually, if a person has a brain tumor, the headaches will be of recent onset, and the patient will have other symptoms, such as seizures, loss of memory, and numbness or weakness on one side. Vijayan asks patients if anything triggers the headaches and what seems to improve them. In women, hormonal changes can trigger migraines.
Alcohol is also a trigger for migraines.
Tension headaches sometimes lasting two days used to keep Keith Chapman from his daily routine, including exercise. A low dose of medication quickly brought his headaches under control.