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Unusual Headaches - What They Can Mean...
The
majority of headaches are the result of very common issues.
However, from time to time there is the possibility that a
headache is symptomatic of something far more serious.
Some examples of health concerns include seriously high
blood pressure, brain tumors, subdural hematomas,
meningitis, or strokes.
Some indications that should signal the need to seek prompt
medical attention are: abrupt, jarring head pain, (some
describe this as a 'thunderclap' in the brain) a headache
that appears or worsens after a head injury, or a headache
that seems to worsen if you happen to move or exert yourself
suddenly. Even if you are used to bad headaches - if one
seems unusual - something you've never experienced before -
then it is a good idea to investigate further help. This is
especially true if it continues to worsen over a twenty-four
hour period.
 If
a headache comes with symptoms such as fever, seizures,
stiff neck, double vision, weakness, loss of balance,
confusion, or difficulty speaking this is may be indicative
of serious illness. There should be no hesitation about
seeking out professional help.
And if a headache is so bad that it wakes you up from sleep
this is another indicator of something beyond the usual type
of head pain.
It will happen that if a doctor suspects that there is a
serious underlying problem he may order an MRI which uses a
powerful magnet and radio waves to make a detailed cross
sectional view of the brain. This can help reveal tumors,
incidences of strokes, aneurysms, or other abnormalities and
allow a doctor to act quickly to provide the needed
treatment.
Another instrument that is often used is computerized
tomography. This uses computer controlled x-rays to provide
a cross sectional look of the brain that will help spot
infections or tumors as well. An electroencephalogram (EEG)
that measures brain wave activity may be used to help
determine that there is an interfering problem but it is not
used to confirm the exact cause of a headache.
Blood tests may be given in order to determine if the
headaches stem from a possible thyroid condition or if the
person is anemic. Both of which can result in the symptom of
bad headaches. Eye exams can help determine if there is an
issue if the muscles are weakened or if the pupil size does
not match. And a spinal tap may be recommended if your
doctor suspects meningitis.
Though the spectrum of these conditions may certainly cause
concern it is good to remember that the vast majority of
headaches stem from far less severe reasons. Given that we
work and live in an environment that seems to be getting
more polluted and stressful with time it is likely that the
incidences of headaches will continue to rise as they have
greatly over recent years.
We can be confident however, that researchers continue to
devote much time and effort to achieve a better
understanding of this health issue and finding successful
ways of treating it.
Learn more about Unusual Headache
here.
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