Dangerous Types of Headaches

We all have headache ever. It is something very common that, in most cases, is not serious and usually disappears after a few minutes or hours.

However, are thereDangerous Types of Headaches? Sometimes headache can hide a serious health problem and requires immediate medical attention.

Dangerous types of headache

Next, we explain what are the types of headache that can be dangerous and how to identify them.

thunderclap headache

headache or thunderclap headache is a kind of sudden severe pain It reaches its peak of maximum intensity in less than a minute.

Although the pain may improve after a few minutes, this type of headache can be a symptom of a serious illnessusually a subarachnoid hemorrhagethat is, bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissues that cover it, which is usually due to the rupture of an abnormal bulge in a blood vessel (aneurysm). It is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as:

Neck stiffness.Alteration of strength or tenderness in a part of the body.double or blurred vision or vision loss.language disturbance.Drowsiness or decreased level of consciousness.

Headache with fever and stiff neck

A headache of this type can be a symptom of meningitisa severe infection and inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord (called the meninges).

It may be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites or fungi and requires immediate medical attention to avoid complications, which can become serious and even cause death.

In addition to severe headache, high fever, and stiff neck, it can cause:

light sensitivity.Nausea or vomiting.Drowsiness.Confusion.seizures.Loss of consciousness.

Headache after a head injury

Noticing pain after an accident or blow to the head may be a sign of a concussion or severe brain injury. In some cases, the headache may occur days after injury.

Even falls or blows to the head that seem minor and insignificanta can cause bleeding in the brain that can be fatal, so pay attention to the appearance of headache or other associated symptoms (such as loss of consciousness, vomiting, memory loss, vision problems or changes in mental state) and seek medical help immediately.

Headache with vision changes

A headache accompanied by visual changes may indicate a migraine with aura, but it may also be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a stroke or a brain tumor.

When it is due to a migraine with aura, the vision changes are usually:

Bright or flashing lights. Zigzag patterns or lines. Blind spots or areas with vision loss. Seeing flashes or other unusual visual phenomena.

When the underlying cause is more seriousvision disturbances may include:

Double or blurred vision. Loss of peripheral vision. Seeing halos or auras around objects. Seeing objects that aren’t really there. Decreased visual acuity.

In any case, it is appropriate consult a doctor to rule out that the origin is in a serious cause.

Headache with weakness or numbness

A severe headache accompanied by weakness and numbness on one side of the body (from head to arms) may indicate a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Other symptoms may appear such as speech and vision problems either sensitivity to light and loud noise.