Call Your Doctor When . . .

The American Council for Headache Education (ACHE), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating people on headache and migraine, provides the following guidelines for determining when a headache warrants a visit to your doctor:

• You have three or more headaches per week
• You must take a pain reliever every day or almost daily.
• You need more than recommended doses of over-the-counter medications to relieve headache symptoms
• You have a stiff neck and/or fever in addition to a headache
• Your headache is accompanied by shortness of breath, fever, and/or unexpected symptoms that affect your eyes, ears, nose, or throat
• You are dizzy, unsteady, or have slurred speech, weakness, or changes in sensation (numbness and/or tingling) in addition to your headache
• You experience confusion or drowsiness with your headache
• Your headaches begin and persist after head injury
• Your headache is triggered by exertion, coughing, bending, or sexual activity
• Your headache keeps getting worse and won't go away
• Your headaches have changed in character
• Persistent or severe vomiting accompanies headache
• You have your "first and/or worse" headache
• Your headaches began after you reached the age of 50