Common and dangerous headache symptoms: must know!

Most of the people in this world must have experienced headaches at least once in their life. Now, most people describe the symptoms of a headache as a sharp pain in every part of the head. In reality, however, there are a variety of other characteristics that you need to recognize as they may indicate a headache is caused by a serious medical condition. One example is if the pain does not go away even after you take headache medicine. Find out more about the symptoms and characteristics of headaches below!

Various common headache symptoms

Headache is pain that occurs in any part of the head. Quoted from Medical News Today, headaches are not only focused on one particular point. Pain can occur on one side of the head, on both sides of the head at once, or spread from one area of ​​the head to another.

The pain intensity can be mild, but it can also be quite strong. The pain can come on gradually or suddenly, and can last from less than an hour to days. The pain pattern can be a throbbing, bumpy, or sharp pain like a stabbing.

Each person may also feel the sensation of pain that is different from one another.

Some people may feel the pain is like a mild throbbing that comes and goes suddenly, such as a thump or a hard blow that comes slowly, the pain is pounding like a wave that gets worse over time, or comes on suddenly with a sharp pain like a rumble. which was immediately severe. Others may have a dull pain, such as pressure or pain, like being stabbed.

Headache symptoms in general can also be associated with other pain symptoms such as:

• Nausea (can lead to vomiting)
• Pain in the eye when looking at bright light (photophobia)
• Dizzy
• Sensation of tightness in the head
• Loss of appetite
• Paleness
• Fatigue
• Increased sensitivity to strong odors or noise

The characteristics of headaches that are specific to the type

Apart from the symptoms that have been mentioned above, the headache experience of each person will usually be different depending on the type of headache being experienced. Here are the details.

1. Symptoms of tension headaches

Tension headache symptoms (tension headache) usually begins to feel light and gradually gets worse gradually. If you compare it, the pain is like the feeling of someone wrapping a ribbon around your head and slowly tightening it. The pain starts from the back of the head and upper neck muscles that become tense.

The pain that appears may be only once, continuously, or days starting from 30 minutes or it can last up to seven days

Other signs of tension headaches include:

• Pain that tends to affect both sides of your head.
• The pressure feels intense above the eyebrows.
• Headaches that just appear in the afternoon
• The pain appears sporadic, frequent, and even daily.
• Hard to sleep.
• Fatigue.
• So get angry faster.
• It's hard to focus.
• It hurts more in certain areas, such as the scalp, temples, back of the neck, and may be felt in the shoulders.
• Muscle ache.

2. Symptoms of migraine headaches

Migraines can cause headaches or aches or pains that are throbbing, but are felt only on one side of the head and are usually on the front or side. The pain can also affect the face or neck.

Not only that. Common migraine symptoms or features can also include:

• Nauseous vomit.
• Sensitive to strong odors, bright or blinding lights, and noise.
• Neck that feels stiff and also tense.
• Vision feels blurry.
• A throbbing and worsening sensation in your head when you move.

3. Symptoms of cluster headaches

One-sided headaches or cluster headaches can occur on consecutive days for a period of a week or more. In one period, the pain can come one to two times a day. These headaches also occur at the same time and often occur in the middle of the night.

Other symptoms of cluster headaches that are commonly felt are

• The pain is quite intense and often around one eye.
• Pain that lasts for 30 to 90 minutes.
• The eyes become reddish and watery.
• Pain or excruciating pain that radiates to other areas such as the face, head, and neck.
• Feel restless.
• Sweating forehead or face where it hurts.
• The skin color becomes pale and turns reddish.
• There is swelling around the eye area.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

Headache symptoms foreshadow danger

Although headaches are common, you should be careful if you experience any unusual accompanying symptoms. Likewise, if you have taken headache medicine but the pain does not go away after more than 24 hours. This could be because you are not compatible with the drug or it could be a sign of another, more dangerous disease.

Quoting Medline Plus, distinguishing common headaches and signs of dangerous conditions can be seen from the characteristics that accompany them.

If you experience the following headache symptoms, you should seek medical help immediately.

1. Headache accompanied by difficulty speaking, and numbness

Severe headaches followed by language disorders, such as slurred speech, difficulty composing sentences, confusion, difficulty thinking, and difficulty understanding other people's words can signal symptoms of a stroke.

Especially if there are accompanying symptoms, namely difficulty moving the limbs and a feeling of tingling or numbness. Hurry to the hospital because a stroke that is late overcame the risk of death.

2. Headache with visual disturbances

Headaches accompanied by visual disturbances, such as blurred, shadowed, or blurry vision, said dr. Emad Estemalik from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in the United States (US), could be a serious migraine symptom.

Also watch for other symptoms such as weakness and tingling sensations.

3. Headache accompanied by fever and stiff neck

Watch out for headaches followed by fever and stiff neck. Do not ignore it and seek medical help immediately.

A headache with fever and a stiff neck is most likely a symptom of inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or inflammation of the lining of the brain (meningitis). These two diseases can be fatal if not treated quickly.

5. Headache accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound

In some cases, mild migraine headaches can be accompanied by symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound. However, other medical problems such as vertigo and concussion may also cause these symptoms.

6. Headaches appear suddenly and are very painful

Watch for signs of dangerous headaches if you suddenly have a very intense and unbearable headache. You should immediately seek emergency health services. Especially if you have never experienced this type of headache before.

According to a neurologist from the Hartford HealthCare Headache Center in the US, dr. Brian Grosberg, usually this type of headache feels like you've been hit hard on the head and the pain level gets worse in just a few minutes.

7. Headache after certain activities

There are some types of headaches that will only appear after you do certain things. For example, after coughing, after exercising, or even after you have sex. This means you have a special health condition that is the cause. You should immediately see a doctor because this is a sign of a dangerous headache.

8. Headaches get worse if you change positions

Pay attention, do the headaches that attack become even more excruciating if you change positions? For example, if you bend down, get up, or sit down.

A headache that gets worse every time your body changes positions can be a symptom of leaking cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. This condition includes signs of dangerous headaches that need to be examined by a doctor immediately.

You should immediately get any headache symptoms checked by your doctor so you can get the best treatment.