FROM stress at work or a heavy night out to too much coffee, there are endless everyday triggers for a pounding headache.
But sometimes the cause of your head pain might be far more serious, two experts have warned.
“If a headache suddenly feels different, such as thunderclap headache, or it’s lasting longer [than usual] it could be of something serious like a bleed or tumour or aneurysm,” Neurologist Dr Baibing Chen said in a video on his Instagram.
Named after the weather phenomenon, thunderclap headaches are sudden agonising pains that feel similar to being hit in the head.
They typically result in “blinding pain unlike anything experienced before” according to the NHS.
This is considered a medical emergency, and the health service advises sufferers to call 999 or get to A&E.
Abbas Kanani, from Online Pharmacy Chemist Click, previously told Sun Health: “Generally, most headaches go away on their own and are not a sign of a serious condition.
“However, if you notice that your headache keeps returning and painkillers do not help and your headache worsens, it should be checked by a GP.”
It is also vital to see a doctor if your headache is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
You should make an urgent appointment or call NHS 111 if you see any of these:
And you must call 999 if your headache is sudden or extreme and follows a head injury.
A brain aneurysm is a bulge in a weak area of a blood vessel.
In most cases, it doesn’t cause any extreme symptoms.
But aneurysms are incredibly serious if they rupture, or burst.
It can result in a subarachnoid haemorrhage, where bleeding on the brain can cause extensive brain damage.
Abbas said that beyond a headache, an aneurysm can also trigger a change in your vision.
“An unruptured aneurysm may cause visual disturbances, such as loss of vision or double vision,” he said.
“Pain above or around your eye, headaches, numbness or weakness on one side of your face and difficulty speaking,” he added.
“You may also suddenly feel the need to be sick.”
Headaches can hint at a brain tumour, so if they’re new or happening more often, it’s worth a trip to the GP.
In fact, about half of all people diagnosed with a brain tumour report headaches as being one of the first symptoms they notice, according to the Brain Tumour Charity.
While most headaches won’t mean you have a tumour, it is important to know when it might be one.
As well as headaches, they can cause headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting and memory problems, according to the NHS.
They can also lead to changes in personality, weakness or paralysis on one side of the face, and problems with speech or vision.
IF you answer 'yes' to any of the following questions, you should make an urgent appointment with your GP:
If any of these statements apply, call 999:
