"Don't fall into the "it's-only-a-headache-so-I-don't-need-to-call-the-doctor" trap. A headache can indicate some other serious disease that needs attention. The American Council for Headache Education lists the following warning signs that should prompt you to call your doctor:
- You have three or more headaches a week.
- You need to take something every day to relieve the pain.
- Fever or a stiff neck accompanies your headache - a warning sign of an infection (fever) or bleeding (stiff neck) within the brain.
- In addition to a headache, you're unsteady on your feet, your speech is slurred, your arms or legs are weak or numb or they tingle (all of which suggest stroke).
- If the headache follows a head injury and you're confused and/or drowsy, you may have suffered a subdural hematoma, a collection of blood that forms under the skull and presses on the brain.
- You're over 50 years of age.
- If your old, familiar headache has changed in character, some new problem may be superimposed on whatever caused the original headache.
Check it out."6
Summary:
Though the experts don't agree on the degree to which migraine increases
stroke risk, they do agree that there is increased risk. Status
migrainousus, as described above, can be especially dangerous. Please don't take
chances.
Remember: When in doubt,
check it out!
_________________
References:
1
MAGNUM, the National Migraine Association: Mission Statement.
http://www.migraines.org/about/aboumiss.htm
2 Stephen D. Silberstein, M.D., Richard B. Lipton, M.D., Donald J. Dalessio, M.D., Wolff's Headache and Other Head Pain. (New York, Oxford University Press, 2001) 207-211.
3
Michael John Coleman, Terri Miller Burchfield of M.A.G.N.U.M. An
Understanding of Migraine Disease & Tips for Migraine Management.
http://www.migraines.org/myth/mythreal.htm
Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications & the
Library at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
http://www3.utsouthwestern.edu/library/consumer/migrain.htm
The National Headache Foundation: Topic Sheets
http://www.headaches.org/topicsheets/stroke.html
ACHE: The American Council for Headache Education: When a Nasty Headache
Comes Back.
http://www.achenet.org/news/art3.php
