Diagnosing Headaches

Diagnosing headaches is important in finding the right treatment. While most people will self diagnose themselves, it is important to visit Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia for a proper diagnosis. Dr. Mayoor Patel understands headaches might occur frequently, which is why a diagnosis is needed to create a proper treatment plan.

Depending on the type of headache, each treatment option might be different. Accurate diagnosis of frequent or recurring headaches is critical to finding relief when symptoms occur. It also helps to establish both a short-term and long-term treatment plan.

A headache might also be a symptom of an underlying health problem that requires further medical attention. In diagnosing headache types, a complete and accurate history of symptoms and characteristics is helpful. Dr. Mayoor Patel might ask about how the headache feels and the characteristics including:

Diag Headache
  • A description of the type of pain and where it is located.
  • The severity of the pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
  • The length of time that the pain lasts.
  • The frequency of the headaches.
  • A presence of a trigger, such as situations, food, activities or medicines preempting the headache.
  • Any symptoms that occur along with the headache, such as sensitivity to light and/or sound, nausea, or weakness.
  • Does anyone else in your family have headaches?
  • When did you first experience this type of headache?
  • Do you experience headaches that feel different, or do you have different types of headaches?

It is also necessary to conduct a physical or neurological examination to find any signs of what might be an underlying cause, such as:

  • Trouble with balance
  • Vision abnormalities
  • High blood pressure
  • Fatigue or muscle weakness
  • Injuries or head trauma
  • Infections

  • Malformation
  • Tumor
  • Hemorrhage

Working with Dr. Patel will further aid in the diagnosis of headaches. Through this teamwork, we can rule out or confirm possible causes and sometimes use diagnostic tests such as an MRI, which is used to take images of the brain that enable a radiologist to see the soft tissues inside the skull. Through the use of an MRI the cause of a headache will potentially be able to be explained.

With multiple types of headaches and many possible causes, it is important to seek further care to determine a proper diagnosis. Most headache patients may not require an array of extensive diagnostic testing before establishing a treatment plan, but that is where proper diagnosis comes into play.

Call us today at 678-899-6076

To schedule an evaluation and find a treatment option to help relieve your pain