When should a patient with headache have a head CT or MRI?

  Patients with headache should have neuroimaging if they have any of the following: 1. decreased level of consciousness or impaired cognitive function; 2. increased pain with exertion, sexual intercourse, coughing, sneezing, etc.; Cao Kegang, Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 3. pain, progressive worsening of the condition; 4. cervical tonicity; 5. focal neurological signs; 6. patients over 50 years of age with their first headache; 7. the most severe headache; headache that does not have a specific form of primary headache.