How to Treat Headaches - Continued

Headaches that are associated with slurred speech, loss of coordination, double vision, or numbness should be treated with emergency care.  You should call your physician for headaches that:

1.) Lasts more than twenty-four hours and occurs two or more times a week
2.) If the pain is really different than other headaches
3.) If you have a fever with a headache and no other symptoms
4.) Rash, stiff neck, or drowsiness
5.) Nausea or vomiting
6.) Recent head injury

For children with a headache, you should take them to the doctor if:
1.) The headache persist or occur several times a week
2.) Headache without obvious cause persists or doe not improve with self-care.
3.) Pain relievers are needed several times a week.
4.) Previously effective measures no longer provide same level of relief.
5.) You suspect a migraine or cluster headache. 

Cluster Headaches

They are similar to migraines with a few differences.  They occur mostly in men and are not necessarily inherited.  They are one sided like a migraine, but throbbing; burning pain behind or above the eye becomes intense rapidly and lasts from ten to several hours.  One to three attacks can occur in a twenty-four hour period, nausea and vomiting are rare, and nasal stuffiness may occur.  Cluster headaches respond well to drugs that constrict the blood vessels such as ergotamine.