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Headaches must be taken seriously in the event of abnormal changes and when the headaches become more frequent.
Some signals can be very serious and require immediate medical attention.
Other signs primarily mean that you need to make some immediate changes.
The vast majority of headache types are harmless, although they can be very painful.
Migraines, tension headaches and, in particular, cluster headaches are examples of harmless but nonetheless very painful headaches.
The most important rule of thumb is that if you get a new type of headache, the headache changes or you get neurological signs or symptoms, you must contact a doctor quickly.
It’s important to rule out secondary headache types, which can be serious.
The reminder SNARET describes what to think about: Read more here.
If you notice that you need to take medication more frequently (more than 2 days per month) or the headache is affecting your quality of life, you also need to seek help, but it’s not about immediate help.
Immediate help – call 113
- Extreme pain in your head that you haven’t had before and that comes on suddenly.
- Seizure or epileptic fit.
- Paralysis in the face and/or legs or arms, which has not been mapped before.
- Sudden changes in vision, hearing and/or speech, such as not being able to speak or pronounce words.
- Fever in connection with a severe headache, often also pain in the neck and back when you bend your head forward.
Book an appointment with your GP
Book an appointment as soon as possible if you recognize yourself in one or more of the points below:
- New type of headache or changes to existing headaches.
- Weight loss
- You notice that you take pain medication more than 2 days per month
Further referral
You should be referred to a headache specialist or a neurologist if:
- The headache has already been assessed by the GP, but is not getting better.
- Headaches greatly affect your quality of life
- You get a headache at night or in the morning
Limiceph
Book appointment
You can book both digital consultations via video or physical consultations at the clinic.
