Just about everyone experiences headaches at some point in life, but severe, persistent, or unusual headaches may be a sign of an underlying health problem. At the Neurological Institute of Los Angeles, with locations in Beverly Grove and throughout Los Angeles, and Glendale, California, the expert team of neurologists diagnose and treat various types of headaches in adults. If you’re concerned about headaches, call the office or book an appointment online today.
Headaches are among the most common medical complaints, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. There are many types of headaches, including:
Tension headaches are the most common type. These headaches usually develop gradually and may make you feel like there’s a tight band around your head.
Migraines cause intense, throbbing pain that usually affects one side of your head. You may also experience symptoms like nausea, blurred vision, and sensory disturbances.
Rebound headaches are a result of excessive use of medications that treat headaches. They usually begin in the morning and become worse throughout the day.
Cluster headaches come on suddenly and typically last anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours. They’re called cluster headaches because they occur in clusters of one to eight headaches per day for several weeks or months.
Thunderclap headaches are sudden, severe headaches that reach maximum intensity in less than one minute. These headaches are often a sign of a serious, life-threatening condition like a brain hemorrhage or aneurysm. Seek medical care right away if you experience thunderclap headaches.
You should call the Neurological Institute of Los Angeles if you have headaches that are frequent and severe enough to interfere with your normal routine. You should seek immediate medical care for headaches that follow head trauma or occur with symptoms like vomiting, fever, or slurred speech.
First, the team at the Neurological Institute of Los Angeles performs a physical exam and reviews your symptoms and medical history. They may take tests, such as an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure your brain activity, or they may do a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for physical causes of your headaches, such as a traumatic brain injury.
Then, your neurologist develops a personalized treatment plan to control your headache symptoms. Treatment may include:
For expert care of all types of headaches, call the Neurological Institute of Los Angeles, or book an appointment online today.