Is a headache reason enough to see your doctor?

It’s one of the oldest (and most ill-advised) doctor clichés out there: “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.”

But lately it’s more like, “See two specialists, have a MRI, CT scan, blood panel and whatever other tests we can think of.”

All for your typical, run-of-the-mill headache.

A team of Boston docs took a look at headaches – and what we do for them – and came up with some amazing facts and figures. They’re also offering some advice about what to do when your head starts throbbing.

And going to see a doctor? Well, that’s last on their list.

More like a pain in the neck

Unbelievably, headaches are the number one reason we visit our doctors.

And these docs are ordering up tests like there’s no tomorrow. I’m talking about a battery of tests like brain scans and other imaging that can cause more pain in your wallet than you’re having in your head. And then there’s all the worry and anxiety.

Dr. John Mafi of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and his team looked at CT and brain scans in 10,000 patients. And in a 10-year period, those expensive tests doctors order more than doubled. Referrals to specialists practically doubled, too.

And it’s not like people are getting more headaches, either. Dr. Mafi linked the uptick in expensive testing to the fact that doctors are simply more likely these days to order test after test – regardless of whether they’re needed or not.

And some of those tests can be incredibly damaging to your health.

Dyes that are used in certain scans can trigger allergies and even kidney problems. And then there’s all that radiation. Research has shown that unnecessary radiation exposure causes around 4,000 cancers a year.

But isn’t it best to be on the safe side, to make sure that headache isn’t a sign of something more serious?

In most cases, no, said Dr. Brian Callaghan of the University of Michigan, who also looked at the billion-dollar headache industry.

“Most headaches are not caused by something bad. Even people with brain tumors rarely have headaches,” he said.

The exception to the rule would be a headache that comes with fever, vomiting, loss of coordination, or a change in vision, speech or alertness. That could indicate a stroke or a serious brain condition and is a reason to see a doctor immediately.

But most of the headaches we get are due to tension, the stress of a job, grinding your teeth at night, a lack of sleep or a hundred other big and little things.

Dr. Mafi says that instead of all that expensive and worrisome testing, as well as all those risky OTC and prescription meds, you’d be better off using some tried and true natural remedies. Ones that can even help with migraines as well.

First off, here are some ways to avoid that headache in the first place:

• Drink more water. Dehydration can come on without warning, especially during the summer and can give you a pounding headache.
• Steer clear of food additives such as MSG and aspartame. Along with causing a whole host of other medical issues, these are known headache triggers.
• Try to get more sleep. When you’re not sleeping well, a morning headache can follow you around most of the day. Avoid using the computer or your smart phone several hours before bedtime. The kind of light these devices give off can cut your melatonin production short and wreck your sleep.

And to treat that headache, some techniques that are proven to work include applying ice to your forehead, taking a hot shower and massage and acupressure treatments.

Sources:

“Drug-free headache remedies more effective than painkillers” Nick Tate, June 5, 2015, NewsMax Health, newsmax.com