ABSTRACT
Headache is a frequent reason why people seek medical advice. We cover the common causes and how to differentiate them from rare serious ones. There are clues from careful listening to the person’s story. Often it is the way they describe the headache, the circumstances when it occurs or symptoms in other parts of the body that identify a cause. Migraine is common, but once diagnosed needs specific self-care or medication. The early recognition of serious causes of headache, such as giant cell arteritis, is essential when prompt treatment can prevent a catastrophe. We then tease out the difference between dizziness, vertigo and faintness, and take a look at the underlying causes.
