Preview Nine of 10 patients who seek medical attention for head pain have a migraine, tension-type, or cluster headache. Sometimes, however, head pain is a symptom of a more serious condition requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. How can you determine if a headache is potentially dangerous? Drs Perkins and Ondo tell you how to avoid misdiagnosis with directed history taking and physical examination, as well as appropriate neurologic evaluation and diagnostic testing.