Acute Headache

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A headache is pain or discomfort in any area of your head. The cause of your headache may be unknown. Women are at higher risk for moderate to severe headaches. Headaches also occur most often in middle-aged adults. Headaches may be acute (start suddenly and get worse quickly), and last for hours, days, or weeks. Headaches may also become chronic, lasting for months or years.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to decrease or take away pain. Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine.
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed: Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell him if you take any vitamins, herbs, or other medicines. Keep a list of the medicines you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits.

Self-care:

• Heat increases blood circulation and may relieve a headache. Place a warm compress or a heating pad on the painful area. A warm compress is a small towel dampened with hot water and placed in a plastic bag. Wrap a towel around the plastic bag to prevent burns. Keep a heating pad on a low heat setting to avoid burns.
  
  
• Keep a headache diary. Write down the dates and times that you get headaches, and what you were doing before the headache started. This may help you learn if there is something that triggers your headaches.
  
  
• Try lying down in a comfortable position and closing your eyes.

Follow up with your primary healthcare provider as directed:

Write down any questions you have so you remember to ask them in your follow-up visits.

Contact your primary healthcare provider if:

• You have a constant headache and are vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• You have changes in your headaches, or new symptoms that occur when you have a headache.
  
  
• You have severe headache pain that does not go away even after you use medicine.

Return to the emergency department if:

• You have a headache that occurs after a blow to the head, a fall, or other trauma.
  
  
• You have a severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, and photophobia (pain with bright light).
  
  
• You have changes in your personality or forgetfulness when you have headaches.
  
  
• You lose feeling on one side of your face or body when you have a headache.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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