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:
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.
There are seven warning signs or symptoms to be aware of, and if they apply, you should seek medical advice. they are:
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.
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