Migraine, tension-type, sinus, cluster. . . . You know what your headache feels like and the other symptoms you have. Seems like finding a diagnosis would be easy, but it can be quite complicated. Consider these factors:
- 90% of what people think are sinus or allergy headaches are actually migraines
- Only 20% of people with migraines have an aura
- A “rebound” from pain meds can be the source of chronic daily headaches
- It is possible to have both migraine and tension-type headaches
Headache Central, an educational site sponsored by the Michigan Headache Treatment Network, has a tool to help classify your headaches in medical terms. The online program asks questions about your headaches, determining which questions to ask based on your previous responses. After you’ve answered all the questions, you’re given a page with your responses and possible diagnoses summarized in a doctor-friendly format to print and take to your next appointment.
The program is not intended for you to diagnose yourself but to provide your doctor with a more complete view of what you’re experiencing. Of course, many readers will use the information to guide further online research. Arriving at your doctor’s office well-informed is helpful; so is being open to what they have to say. Think of the headache classification tool a starting point from which your doc can ask you relevant questions (and vice versa) to flesh out your diagnosis and find the appropriate treatment for you.
FYI: The program doesn’t work in Firefox.
I think I have come across this tool before. I wonder why it doesn’t work in firefox? I think it might be useful for many people but not for others. I haven’t actually tried it out though but from research I have conducted there really are hundreds of different things that can cause a headache. So yes it probably is a start to help in research for many.