When You See Your Family Doctor For A Headache Issue
Most people experience headaches at various times in their life. It's not necessarily a concern if you have a mild headache. Typically, mild headaches will subside in a short amount of time, even without treatment. If the discomfort persists, you can always take some over-the-counter medication that will help. There can be times, however, that you should reach out for help with your headaches. Unless your headache is so serious that you're concerned a major health issue may be present, you won't need to visit the emergency room. Instead, you can set up an appointment with your family doctor. Here are some times to visit a physician for a headache issue.
Chronic Headaches
While it's normal to experience a headache from time to time, it's not normal if you feel this discomfort on a chronic basis. People suffer from chronic headaches for all sorts of reasons, and a doctor can be your first step in getting to a solution. For example, perhaps you have allergies that cause headaches, or maybe you have a neck issue that is creating this pain. Your doctor may recommend one or more types of testing, and may also prescribe medication that you can use to treat your discomfort.
No Help From Medication
Popping an over-the-counter pain pill can often be enough to eliminate a headache, but you may find yourself in a situation in which this type of medication isn't having an effect. Perhaps you need to take the maximum dosage for a couple of days to get your headache under control, or maybe you feel reluctant to take more than one pill because you're concerned about the long-term side effects that may be present. Whatever the case, you should see your family doctor if you're struggling to manage your headache pain with over-the-counter medication.
Depression
Your headache pain may be so chronic or severe that it's impacting your mental health. Some people who suffer from frequent headaches can begin to feel depressed, perhaps as a result of being in pain much of the time. While you can always see your family doctor if you're contending with a mental health condition such as depression, seeking help is especially important if you're suffering from headaches and depression. Your doctor will listen to you describe what you're going through, and then suggest one or more forms of testing or treatment that can help. Contact your family doctor's office to set up an appointment if you're facing one of these headache-related issues.