Neurologist explains how to tell if your headache could be something much more serious
That dull headache from working at your laptop all day really just tops a crap day at work off.
Or maybe your head has started banging because you’ve been blasting your music on full volume to get through your shift.
Not always sinister, but sometimes just the result of your own actions, or a side effect of being unwell, a headache can be a right pain to put up with, but can also be 'instantly' relieved.
Perhaps you don’t even know why your head hurts, it just suddenly does – really badly.
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Well, it could be more than just an annoying inconvenience, as a neurologist explains how to tell if your headache could be something much more serious for your health.
What is a thunderclap headache?
Dr Baibing Chen (who goes by Dr Bing on social media) explained he would ‘never’ ignore a headache that feels different to the ones he usually gets.
“If a headache suddenly feels different, such as a thunderclap headache, or it’s lasting longer, it could be a sign that something serious like a bleed or tumour or aneurysm,” he says.
As the weather name suggests, a thunderclap headache is one that comes on very suddenly and painfully. The NHS describes it as being similar to a ‘sudden hit on the head’ that results in a ‘blinding pain unlike anything experienced before’.
This is a key symptom of a burst brain aneurysm, which is a bulge in a blood vessel caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall. When it bursts, it leads to an extremely serious condition, a subarachnoid haemorrhage, where bleeding caused by the ruptured aneurysm can cause extensive brain damage and symptoms.
When a headache needs medical attention
If you have a headache that comes on suddenly and it’s extremely painful, you should call 999 or go straight to A&E.
You should also see a GP if your headache keeps coming back, if painkillers don’t help, and if it gets worse.
A visit to the GP is also recommended if you have a throbbing pain at the front or side of your head, if you feel sick, vomit, and find light or noise painful, and if you regularly get them before or during your period.
It’s also recommended to call 111 or get an urgent appointment at the doctors if you have a severe headache and experience:
- jaw pain when eating
- blurred or double vision
- a sore scalp
- other symptoms, such as numbness or weakness in the arms or legs
How other headaches can be treated
In less serious cases, most headaches just go away on their own.
You can help them by making sure you drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest if you also have a cold or the flu.
The likes of paracetamol and ibuprofen are recommended and try to stay relaxed – being stressed can just make headaches worse.
Jess Battison