5 Sure Signs That Your Headache Requires Urgent Medical Attention

What do you do when you have a headache? The most common response for most people is to self-medicate with your favorite painkillers. Headaches can, however, result from serious underlying health issues.

The most serious types of headaches are caused by bleeding in the brain, brain tumor, aneurysm which is the enlargement of arteries, meningitis, among other conditions.

If you develop the 5 types of aches below, visit the super clinic in gold coast for a CT scan and migraine diagnosis.

1.Thunderclap headache

A thunderclap headache is one that comes suddenly and in full force, causing extreme pain and lasts less than 5 minutes. These kinds of headaches can either result from problems with blood vessels, sudden injuries, and structural abnormalities in the brain.

If the headache is triggered by strenuous activities like sex and difficult bowel movements, you need immediate medical attention.

Additionally, watch out for other symptoms accompanying a thunderclap headache including fever, loss of vision, weakness, and confusion. These may be signs that there is a serious underlying medical condition.

2.Your worst headache ever

Once in a while, we all suffer headaches. If you, however, experience a very painful headache like never before, seek immediate medical attention.

A random headache that hurts like hell should worry you. Also, check out for other symptoms such as a stiff neck or fever. Such a headache can be a sign of brain hemorrhage.

Do you use blood thinners? Ensure you use them safely to prevent bleeding that can cause headaches.

3.Pain at the back of your head

The location of your headache matters. Pain in the back of the head can be as a result of trivial factors such as poor posture or more serious conditions such as arthritis and occipital neuralgia.

Any kind of arthritis can trigger an inflammation on your neck which can result in headaches.

The most dangerous type of headache is accompanied by a pain that moves from the back of your head down your neck. That could be a sign of occipital neuralgia, a condition where the nerves that connect your neck and your spinal cord are damaged. In such a case, you need urgent medical attention.

4.Headaches with pre-existing medical conditions

Headaches should also be a cause for alarm when you are suffering from diseases that affect your immune system including diabetes, cancer, and HIV.

5.Headaches with certain symptoms

Particular symptoms signal bigger problems with your health. If your headache is accompanied by numb limbs, seizures, or general weakness, it is time to see a doctor.

Lifestyle Headaches

While some headaches are deadly, others may not require medical attention. Common headaches can come from habits in our day to day lives.

You can easily deal with them in your home through the use of painkillers. Better yet, adopt better habits. A few reasons why you may experience headaches are:

Speaking on your phone for long hours

When you have your phone fixed between your ear and your shoulder and you have a call that goes on for more than a few minutes, headaches are inevitable. In such cases, opt to put your caller on speaker.

Caffeine and other addictive substances withdrawal headache

If you are a lover of highly caffeinated drinks or you have just started warming up to them, you may notice that you will experience headaches when you haven’t had your drink. This is because caffeine causes your blood veins to become narrow. They later widen when you skip your regular cup.

The resulting widening of blood vessels increases blood flow which can cause headaches.

Long hours in front of your computer

Do you have an antiglare protector on your computer screen? That could be one of the reasons why your head just will not stop aching. The light from the computer can cause eye strain. Every few minutes, look at least 2 feet away from your computer to relax your eyes.

The best way to handle a caffeine headache is to slowly cut back on your caffeine until you are no longer dependent on it.

Irregular sleep patterns

Do your sleep habits trigger migraines? Yes, they do!

While it may not always be possible to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, it does help to reduce the irregularity of your sleep patterns.

Sleeplessness can also trigger headaches.

Stress

Stress headaches are, unsurprisingly, the most common. Stressful situations cause response chemicals to be released in the brain. These chemicals can cause changes in the size of blood vessels which trigger headaches.

Final Words

Headaches are a common cause of discomfort for many. Simple life changes like adopting an upright sitting posture, reducing your reliance on caffeine, avoiding heavy lifting, reducing stress, and using antiglare protectors in your screens can help prevent headaches.

For more serious, rare, and extremely painful headaches, it is best to consult a doctor.