Cluster Headaches: Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis is critical to successful headache treatment. That being said, both you and your physician need to communicate clearly to effectively diagnose and treat your disorder. Ask your doctor direct and specific questions and make sure you understand the answers. The more clearly and specifically you can communicate your symptoms to your physician, the more likely you are to find relief.

Headaches are diagnosed by matching symptoms to typical headache patterns. Keeping a headache diary can help your doctor identify triggers and isolate precipitating factors that may either contribute to or aggravate your condition. In addition, knowing your family medical history can help your doctor to accurately diagnose a disorder.

Once diagnosed, educating yourself on the type of headache you have and appropriate treatment for it can help you effectively manage it. For many headaches sufferers, some combination of stress management therapy and medication is often an effective way to manage their disorder. Because people react differently to various medications and therapies, you and your physician will need to find the right combination to help you prevent and effectively manage emerging headaches.

The good news is that headache research and treatment are evolving specialties. New and increasingly successful therapies are emerging every day.