Headache
Q) What is a headache?
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What are the causes of headaches?
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How common are primary and secondary headaches?
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What types of headaches are there?
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Are headaches hereditary?
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What is migraine? What causes it, and how can I treat it?
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What is an aura?
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What is a trigger?
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Does weather affect migraines?
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What is the link between migraine and hormones?
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Is there an increased risk of stroke for migraine sufferers?
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What are acute medications for migraine?
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What are the triptans?
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Are over-the-counter medications for migraine effective?
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What are preventive medications for migraine?
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Why are anticonvulsants used to treat migraine?
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Why are antidepressants used to treat migraine?
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What alternative therapies are used to treat migraine?
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What is a tension-type headache? What causes it, and how can I treat it?
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What is a cluster headache? What causes it, and how can I treat it?
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What is a sinus headache? What causes it, and how can I treat it?
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What is a rebound headache? What causes it, and how can I treat it?
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What is biofeedback?
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Can children get headaches?
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What type of doctor should I see to diagnose and treat my headache?
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Do children outgrow headaches?
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How are headaches evaluated and diagnosed?
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How are headaches treated?
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What happens after I start treatment?
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Could my headache be a symptom of something serious? Or a preventable underlying condition?
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How do I know I have a tension-type headache and not a migraine?
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Is there anything I can do to ease headache pain without taking a medication?
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What are the most effective over-the-counter pain relievers?
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Is there anything I can do to prevent tension-type headaches?
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How do I recognize triggers for headache pain?
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Can muscle relaxants or other prescription drugs help?
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Are there experimental treatments that would help?
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My child suffers from regular headaches. Are there any special concerns?
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How many different causes are there for headaches? I do not believe that doctors have really worked out what mine are due to.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
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Have you got the headache at present?
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Have you had this type of headache before?
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How often do you get the headaches?
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How long do the headaches last?
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Where exactly is the headache?
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How would you describe the headache?
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Gradual or sudden onset of the headache?
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What time of the day is the headache worse?
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Are you under a lot of stress or tension?
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Have you had a heavy cold recently?
Recent head injury?
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Have you had a recent spinal procedure?
Medications? Alcohol history? Caffeine intake? Family history?
Doctor may ask about related symptoms:
Pain in the back of the head or neck?
Nausea or vomiting?
Unusual sensations in your eyes, such as flashing lights?
Dizziness, weakness or any strange sensations?
Does the light hurt your eyes?
Do you get blurred vision?
Watering or redness of one or both of your eyes?
Pain or tenderness on combing your hair?
Does your nose run when you get the headaches?
Fever, sweats or chills?
Teeth pain?
Jaw pain?
Seizures?
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How common are primary and secondary headaches?
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What are the symptoms of tension headaches?
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What are the symptoms of migraine headaches?
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What are the symptoms of cluster headaches?
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What causes primary headaches?
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Are primary headaches dangerous?
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What diseases cause secondary headaches?
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How are secondary headaches diagnosed?
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What are the tests for secondary headaches?
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When should one consult a doctor for headaches?
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What is the treatment for tension headaches?
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What is the treatment for moderate to severe migraine headaches?
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What are the side effects of triptans?
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What other medications are used for treating migraine headaches?
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How are migraine headaches prevented?
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What are migraine triggers?
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What should migraine sufferers do?
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What are prophylactic medications for migraine headaches?
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Who should consider prophylactic medications to prevent migraine headaches?
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How effective are prophylactic medications?
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What is the proper way to use preventive medications?
Q) What is the treatment of cluster headaches?
Q) What is the treatment for menstrual migraine?
Q) What is the prognosis?
Q) How Can I Help My Doctor?
Pay attention to your symptom(s) so you can describe your condition as accurately as possible:
Q) What are your headache location, duration, severity (worst ever headache?), and character (dull, sharp, throbbing, etc.)?
Q) What brings them on (for example, certain foods, stress, bright light, fasting, or sleep disturbances)?
Q) What aggravates them (exertion, coughing, bending, or sexual activity)?
Q) What relieves them?
Q) How long have you had these headaches? Have you had these headaches since childhood?
Q) How frequently do you get headaches? Do they occur on weekdays? Weekends?
Q) Are headaches related to menstruation?
Q) Do other family members have similar headaches?
Q) Are headaches often preceded by warning symptoms such as fatigue, yawning, sleepiness, or euphoria?
Q) Are your headaches associated with visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, pallor, cold hands and feet, seizures, weakness or unusual sensations of the arm or leg, unsteady gait, slurred speech, or fever?
Q) Has there been a recent head trauma or a fall?
Prepare a list of all your medications, medical conditions, and surgeries.
Include all prescription and nonprescription medications, supplements, vitamins, herbs, and minerals. You might bring them with you to show your doctor. This will help answer any questions your doctor may have about your medications and dosages.
List prior and current medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attacks, or cancers.
List prior surgeries (appendectomy, hysterectomy, knee replacement, etc.), procedures (colonoscopy, mammography, upper GI x-rays, etc.), and hospitalizations. Bring any hospitalization records and procedure reports in your possession.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Q) What do you think is causing my headaches?
Q) Is there more than one condition (disease) that could be causing my headaches?
Q) What tests will you do to diagnose my headaches?
Q) How accurate are the tests?
Q) How safe are the tests?
Q) What is the likely course of my condition? What is the long-term prognosis?
Q) What are my treatment options? How effective is each treatment option? What are the benefits versus the risks of each treatment option?
Q) If my symptoms worsen, what should I do on my own? When should I contact you?
Q) Are you aware of each of the medications that I am taking? Can they adversely interact with the medications you are prescribing for me?
Q) Should we monitor for side effects of the medications that you are prescribing or for their interactions with other medications I am taking?
Q) How About Follow-up Care?
Angina
Q) What Is Angina?
Q) What Causes Angina?
Q) What Are The Symptoms Of Angina?
Q) What is the difference between a heart attack and angina?
Q) Does chest pain always mean a heart problem?
Q) When is angina an emergency?
Q) How Is Angina Diagnosed?
Q) What Type Of Treatment Is Available?
Q) My doctor says that my chest pain may be angina, but more tests are needed. When my EKG was taken, it was normal. Do I really need to have a stress test Procedure used to measure the heart's response to exercise (also known as an exercise tolerance test). During stress testing, the individual is asked to ride a stationary bicycle or walk on a treadmill while a physician takes an electrocardiogram.?
Q) I am frightened by the idea of having to walk on a treadmill during my exercise tolerance test Procedure used to measure the heart's response to exercise (also known as a stress test). During exercise tolerance testing, the individual is asked to ride a stationary bicycle or walk on a treadmill while a physician takes an electrocardiogram. . Won't that trigger my angina - or a heart attack?
Q) My spouse is scheduled to have angiography. She was told that a plastic tube will be inserted through a blood vessel until it reaches her heart. Won't that be painful - and dangerous?
Q) I've been told that I should exercise regularly for my angina. But aren't some types of exercise dangerous?
Q) My nutritionist says that I should eat more fish and try to cook with vegetable oils like canola. Why?
Q) How do you tell the difference between angina and a heart attack?
Q) What does "unstable" angina mean?
Q) How do nitroglycerin pills stop angina?
Q) I have high blood pressure as well as angina. Do any medications treat both problems?
Q) Isn't bypass surgery less risky than it used to be?
Q) What is Interventional Cardiology?
Q) What are Interventional Procedures?
Q) What is Coronary Artery Disease?
Q) What is Peripheral Vascular Disease?
Q) What do I do before a scheduled procedure?
Q) What are the "do's and dont's" after a procedure?
Q) What are Drug Coated Stents?
Q) Are there any special precautions with medicated stents?
Q) What is High Risk Angioplasty & Cardiopulmonary Support (CPS)?
Q) What is Percutaneous Transmyocardial Revascularization (PTMR)?
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