Most people will have suffered from a pounding headache before. For the majority of cases, they’re annoying but usually harmless, especially if you haven’t drunk enough water. However they can sometimes be a sign of something serious.
Nicholas Johnson MD said that it’s not easy to tell the difference between an ordinary and dangerous headache, according to Allina Health. However, it’s very important that persistent or serious symptoms are not simply brushed off.
Dr Johnson lists a few of the most serious outcomes that can start as a simple headache. They include:
- Hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke: When a blood vessel in your brain breaks and bleeds.
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA; also called a mini-stroke): TIA symptoms are less severe and don’t last as long as a regular stroke.
- Aneurysm: A bulge or ballooning blood vessel in the brain.
- Meningitis: A bacterial or viral infection that causes swelling in the protective lining of your brain.
- Brain tumour: A “primary” brain tumour begins in the brain and can be cancerous or non-cancerous.
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According to the NHS, headaches can last 30 minutes, several hours or sometimes several days. Some common headache causes can be reversed without medical intervention.
There are cases you’ll want to get an urgent GP appointment or head straight to A&E. If you develop a headache with no history of a similar headache, it could be a sign of something seriously wrong.
Headaches can sometimes last for several days, according to the NHS
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There are seven warning signs or symptoms to be aware of, and if they apply, you should seek medical advice. they are:
- It comes on suddenly (less than five minutes to maximum pain)
- It is the worst headache of your life
- You take a blood thinner
- You have problems with your immune system – such as diabetes, HIV or are being treated with steroids or chemotherapy
- You have arm or leg numbness or weakness, slurred speech, seizures or other neurological symptoms
- You have pain in the back of your head or pain that travels down your neck
- You are older than 50
You might need to seek medical attention if your headaches are painful or persistent
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There is a key difference between a migraine and a common headache. You’ll be able to tell the difference as a migraine tends to be “a very bad headache with a throbbing pain on one side of the head”.
Migraines usually last between two hours and three days, according to the NHS. Some people have migraines several times a week, while others do not have them very often.
It’s common to have migraines before or during your period, called menstrual migraines. Most people find their migraines slowly get better as they get older.