Not all headaches require a physician’s attention. But headaches can signal a more serious disorder that requires prompt medical care. Immediately call or see a doctor if you or someone you’re with experiences any of these symptoms:
■ Sudden, severe headache that may be accompanied by a stiff neck.
■ Severe headache accompanied by fever, nausea or vomiting that is not related to another illness.
■ “First” or “worst” headache, often accompanied by confusion, weakness, double vision or loss of consciousness.
■ Headache that worsens over days or weeks or has changed in pattern or behavior.
■ Recurring headache in children.
■ Headache following a head injury.
■ Headache and a loss of sensation or weakness in any part of the body, which could be a sign of a stroke.
■ Headache associated with convulsions.
■ Headache associated with shortness of breath.
■ Two or more headaches per week.
■ Persistent headache in someone who has been previously headache-free, particularly in someone over age 50.
■ New headaches in someone with a history of cancer or HIV/AIDS.
— Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke