Almost all of us suffer from headaches at one time or another. Most of us never seek medical treatment for them. Those of us with occasional or moderate headaches either suffer them out without help, or treat them with common drugstore pain relievers and decongestants.
Headaches can be a signal of serious disease.
It is important to consult your doctor even if you are currently being treated for headaches if your headache has one or more of the following characteristics. There is a change in the character, location or frequency of your headache. If the pain of a headache changes in severity or changes its location, this may indicate new and possibly serious disease Especially in older people, headaches may indicate new treatable conditions such as stroke, hypertension, or glaucoma. If new symptoms occur with your headaches, it may be nothing but could indicate the need for immediate treatment of worrisome conditions. Confusion, weakness, or difficulty speaking may be present during migraines, but more often indicate serious problems.