Can I do a CT scan if I have a headache?

There are many reasons for headaches. Some people suffer from headaches due to lack of rest, while others suffer from headaches due to colds and fever. Headaches can be relieved by massaging the temples and pinching the cervical vertebrae, but not all headaches can be relieved by this method. Some people's condition is so serious that they need to go to the hospital for examination. Now let’s take a look at whether it is okay to do a CT scan if you have a headache?

What diseases can CT diagnose?

CT, or computerized tomography, has high diagnostic value for central nervous system diseases and is widely used in clinical practice. Especially for the following diseases,

Good diagnostic effect, more reliable diagnostic results: brain tumors,

Including primary or metastatic tumors, especially multiple tumors; craniocerebral injuries, such as various hematomas,

Especially multiple hematomas and cranial fossa hematomas; abscesses and granulomas and parasites; cerebrovascular diseases,

Such as ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hematoma, intracranial aneurysm,

Cerebrovascular malformations; symptomatic epilepsy; hydrocephalus; congenital malformations, etc.

CT scans have blind spots:

The application of CT has limitations: CT is difficult to detect lesions smaller than 1 cm, especially those with a density close to that of the brain parenchyma; in the early stages of ischemic diseases (such as cerebral infarction), CT scans often show no characteristic density changes.

It is easy to miss the diagnosis; tumors in the posterior cranial fossa, brainstem or skull base are also often missed due to bone artifacts or partial volume effect. In addition, CT cannot show the cause of obstruction of the ventricular system, aqueduct, and median foramen caused by adhesions;

There are also shortcomings in observing the details of brainstem lesions and certain cerebrovascular diseases.

Should I do CT scan for headache?

There are many causes of headaches.

It can be roughly divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary neuralgic headache is the most common in clinical practice. Neuralgia is also called tension headache, functional headache or vascular neurosis headache.

It is mostly caused by fatigue, irregular life, excessive smoking and drinking, and lack of sleep.

The pain can be caused by emotional tension, excitement, anger, insomnia,

It may be exacerbated by factors such as anxiety or depression. The intensity of pain is usually mild to moderate and rarely affects daily life. By arranging your work and rest schedule properly and maintaining a healthy lifestyle,

Get rid of negative emotions such as tension, anxiety, and boredom, adjust your diet,

If necessary, painkillers can be used to relieve or eliminate the pain.