Could Frequent Headaches Mean a Brain Tumor?

Could Frequent Headaches Mean a Brain Tumor?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION: I have frequent headaches, that occur many times a month. They do
not affect me so that I must lie down, but because they are so frequent, I am
beginning to worry about a brain tumor. Since there is nothing to see, can a
doctor really help me discover the cause of my problem?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWER: Fortunately, a doctor has many tools at his or her fingertips for
diagnosing your problem. When you show up for your appointment, the first
procedure you should prepare for is to be able to relate a complete history
of your complaints. Your doctor will want to know where your head hurts, how
long the pain lasts, what type of pain you feel, how often the headache
occurs, what time they usually start and any factors that may set them off.
You'll also be asked how old you were when the headaches started, whether the
headaches have gotten worse, whether you can feel an attack coming on and
whether your headaches are accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea,
vomiting, or an abnormal sensitivity to light. It's also important that you
note whether your headaches force you to stop whatever you're doing and
whether there are any particular actions that make the pain better or worse.
To uncover any underlying medical conditions, your doctor run through a
number of important questions about other parts of your body. He may ask
whether you find that your eyes are red or your vision is blurred. This might
indicate glaucoma. If there's a history of hypertension in your family,
undetected high blood pressure may be the cause of your problem. Fever,
nausea or diarrhea--signs of a recent infection--can also be a clue to making
a diagnosis. And if you've been confused, irritable or have had seizures, a
fever, or a stiff neck, meningitis may be at work.
Of course, not all headaches have physical causes, and so your doctor
will desire to know about any stressful situations, anxiety or depression that
you face in your everyday life. Even something as simple as clenching your
teeth can bring on a type of headaches commonly known temporomandibular joint
syndrome, characterized by a pain that starts in front of the ear and radiates
towards the temple and down the side of the neck.
Once your medical history is out of the way, a physical exam is in order.
Since there are many causes of headaches, your doctor will want to check you
thoroughly. For instance, he or she will look for symptoms associated with
cluster headaches--congestion in only one nostril, red eye, drooping of the
upper eyelid. Cluster headaches most often occur in men age 20 to 60.
If a medical history and an exam are not enough to make a clear
diagnosis, your doctor will order lab tests. A CT scan, for example, may
reveal many problems within the skull itself, the brain, its coverings the
meninges, and spinal cord.
As you can see, a headache doesn't have to mean a tumor. But the best
course of action for frequent headaches is to see a doctor for the right
treatment for your particular problem. And since some conditions that cause
headaches can also lead to other, less benign situations, it's best to see a
doctor as soon as possible.
I know many people who put off visiting their physicians in cases like
yours, because they are afraid that it will only "bring bad news". But
whatever the news or diagnosis (and the odds are heavily in favor of it being
some easy to treat situation), an early diagnosis and effective treatment is
the "good news" that may result from overcoming your apprehensions