How to Recognize Which Headache Is Dangerous

The pain in any region of the head is a headache. Headaches may occur on one or both sides of the head, or be isolated to a certain location.

They may appear suddenly or gradually, and can come as throbbing sensation, a sharp pain or dull ache, and they may last shorter than an hour or up to a few days.

Nevertheless, what is important is to know which types of headaches are dangerous and indicate that you must visit a doctor, and which ones are harmless.

Here below are a few cases and properties of unusual migraines:

• Along with the headache, you suffer from confusion, memory loss, difficulty moving extremities and loss of balance
• When headaches occur with fever, nausea, or vomiting and are not linked to other health issues
• Headaches that develop after age 50
• If the frequency, location, and severity of headaches changes frequently
• The worst headache you have ever experienced
• Headache linked with shortness of breath
• Accompanied by seizures
• In case your migraines limit your ability to work and participate in everyday activities
• When your headaches get worse each day
• Hampers vision and speech
• If you experience headaches after activities like sex, weight lifting or jogging

The following are some types of headaches that require your attention and mustn’t be ignored:

1. Morning migraine- Headache that is worse after you get up

This condition is called “a morning migraine”. However, you should seriously take care since it can be a sign of brain tumor.  However, Casilda Balmaceda, M.D., an assistant professor of Neurology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City discovered that only 8% of people who suffer from brain tumor have morning migraine.

2. Post- traumatic headache- Headache after injury/ damage

These headaches often result in blackouts, so an immediate restorative treatment is needed. The brain can be damaged and the skull can be pressed by only a small head injury.

3. Sudden cerebral pain

An aneurysm is a bulge or “ballooning” in the wall of an artery. Brain aneurysms usually lead to a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). It is defined as bleeding into the subarachnoid space and can be life- threatening.

Symptoms occur when blood escapes into the space around the brain, and can be in several forms, such as dilated pupils, blurred or double vision, pain above and behind eye, weakness and numbness, localized headache, difficulty in speaking.

4. Worst cerebral pain of your life

Severe migraine includes torment in the upper neck and head when lying still, hardened neck, not being able to endure light, perplexity etc. It is also accompanied with nausea, vomiting, vision problems dizziness.  It is advisable to consult your doctor if the symptoms do not disappear during the day.

5. Thunderclap headache

Thunderclap headache is associated with many health conditions, including subarachnoid hemorrhage. It is a sudden and severe headache which takes seconds to minutes to reach maximum intensity.