Headache: what it is and how to treat it
The World Health Organization ranks headaches among the 20 most disabling diseases by calculating the days lived in the grip of pain. Yet, even today this disorder is little taken into account, as less than 20% of those suffering from headache actually see a specialist. We often confine the problem to self-medication practice and ruefully accept the worsening of the quality of our life. Instead, it is essential to try to resolve the disorder by contacting a headache clinic.
The Headache Clinic offers diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to understand the causes of headaches and identify the most suitable treatment for each.
Diagnosis and Treatment Procedures
The clinic leads the patient through a diagnosis and treatment path using a multidisciplinary approach that sees the neurologist, when necessary, working with other specialists experienced in the field.
It is possible to:
- identify the cause(s) and triggering factors of the headache;
- set up a personalized treatment which, in addition to drugs, can also include suggestions for lifestyle changes (nutrition, sleep, etc.).
- It is also possible to take advantage of neuroradiological diagnostic investigations using state-of-the-art equipment.
The treatment path
Recommended steps are the following:
- Neurological examination: through an accurate medical history of the person, the neurologist frames the characteristics, lifestyles and any risk factors.
- Diagnosis: the doctor draws up a personalized procedure of neuroradiological and laboratory tests in addition to further specialist investigations deemed appropriate
- Treatment: on the basis of what has been said above and the tests performed, the neurologist identifies the type of headache and recommends the adequate treatment, relying on the cooperation of other specialists depending on the cause or causes of the headache.
- Clinical diary: depending on the case, the patient can be asked to keep a record of each headache, in order to observe frequency, intensity and what the triggering factors may be.
- Follow up: Once the treatment starts, a check-up schedule will be agreed with the patient (depending on the case) in order to monitor the therapy’s progress.
The diagnosis
There is not only one type of headache. In fact, there are many and different ones, from migraines to tension headaches (the most frequent), up to the so-called cluster headache. Also causes can be many and varied, including:
- stress;
- incorrect lifestyle habits,
- genetic predisposition,
- hormonal changes;
- other less frequent causes
In any case, especially when it is not an isolated incident, but the headache becomes chronic, almost incessant, it represents an important problem with a strongly negative impact on the quality of life of those who suffer from it and those close to them. Correctly framing the type of headache is the first step in developing a targeted and effective therapy.
The diagnosis
There is not only one type of headache. In fact, there are many and different ones, from migraines to tension headaches (the most frequent), up to the so-called cluster headache. Also causes can be many and varied, including:
- stress;
- incorrect lifestyle habits,
- genetic predisposition,
- hormonal changes;
- other less frequent causes
In any case, especially when it is not an isolated incident, but the headache becomes chronic, almost incessant, it represents an important problem with a strongly negative impact on the quality of life of those who suffer from it and those close to them. Correctly framing the type of headache is the first step in developing a targeted and effective therapy.