Acute, life-threatening symptoms? Call 144 directly.
Condition
Headache: warning signs and first assessment
Orientation
How urgent is it?
When in doubt, always choose the higher level.
Assessment and treatment on site. You are welcome without an appointment, too.
Book an appointmentor simply walk in
- a sudden, extremely severe headache, like a thunderclap
- headache after a fall or a blow to the head
- a new headache appearing for the first time after the age of 50
- fever with a stiff neck
- changes in vision or speech, numbness or loss of strength
- headache with a known tumour or a weakened immune system
- headache that increases steadily over days
If your symptoms are acute and life-threatening, call 144. aprioris is not an emergency department.
Overview
What you should know
Acute headache, and the question of when it is urgent.
Most headaches are tension-type or migraine-like and have no dangerous cause. Some patterns, however, are warning signs and call for assessment straight away. We ask closely about onset, course and what comes with it.
One address for your concern
Book an appointment or come by during opening hours. And if you are unsure whether we are the right address: come anyway; we will work it out with you.
Symptoms
Typical signs
Typical signs
- tension headache: pressing, on both sides, often after stress, screen work or poor sleep
- migraine-like: throbbing, often one-sided, with nausea or sensitivity to light
- headache with a cold or sinus involvement: pressure in the face
- headache from too little fluid or sleep
What happens
What happens at aprioris
Our aim: to resolve your concern directly on site. Assessment, treatment and, where needed, a prescription or certificate. If specialist care is needed, we refer you on.
We listen to your concern, examine you carefully and put the findings in context. Then we discuss what happens next with you.
Every case is reviewed and signed off by a physician, either during your visit or shortly after. Anything that needs specialist care, we refer on, prioritised by urgency and with a written report. aprioris does not dispense medication itself.
Treatment
Treatment overview
What you can do yourself
- breaks from screens and some fresh air
- pay attention to your sleep
- note when the headaches occur and what precedes them
Services
Related services
Locations
Where we treat this
Available at 10 locations, with an appointment or as a walk-in.
AmriswilBadenBern ChristoffelHerisauLucerne NeustadtWinterthur MarktgasseZurich AlbisriederplatzZurich LimmatplatzZurich MorgentalZurich Paradeplatz
Booking
Book an appointment online
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an appointment for this?
Not necessarily. You are welcome without booking during opening hours. If you book an appointment, you are seen at the agreed time. You can book online or by calling the practice.
What does the assessment cost?
aprioris is a medical practice licensed by the canton. Services covered by mandatory health insurance are billed accordingly. Your deductible and co-payment apply, as in any medical practice. Preventive services are paid for privately; prices are shown with each service.
What should I bring?
Your health insurance card. If you take medication, a current medication list or the packaging helps. For anything to do with vaccination, please bring your vaccination record.
When should I go straight to emergency care?
A sudden, extremely severe headache, headache with speech, vision or paralysis symptoms, or headache with fever and a stiff neck: call 144 immediately.