3 headache symptoms you should never ignore: They threaten blindness and stroke
Which headache symptoms should not be ignored (Illustrative photo: freepik.com)
A doctor has warned that if you experience certain signs and symptoms during a headache, you should consult your therapist.
Here are the symptoms that should not be ignored, according to Mirror.
Severe headache
In the first warning, Dr. Bing says that if a headache reaches a 10 out of 10 in pain within a minute, and people typically describe it as the worst headache of their life, it should be taken very seriously.
"The most important thing here is to rule out a subarachnoid haemorrhage usually caused by a ruptured aneurysm. But there can be other causes as well," he emphasizes.
A subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rare type of stroke caused by bleeding on the surface of the brain. It is a very serious condition and can be fatal, warns the NHS.
Other causes include conditions such as RCVS, which is a periodic narrowing of blood vessels in the brain, and cerebral venous thrombosis, which is a blood clot in a large vein of the brain.
As people age, the likelihood of developing a new primary headache, such as migraines, decreases, making it important to rule out secondary causes such as hematomas, brain tumors, and infections, among others.
You are over 50 years old
Another alarming sign to watch for is if a person over 50 develops a new headache accompanied by changes in vision. It's also important to monitor for scalp sensitivity and pain while chewing.
The doctor warns that this could be giant cell arteritis. This is an inflammatory condition of the blood vessels and can lead to permanent blindness if not treated promptly with high doses of steroids.
Eye symptoms with a headache
If you have a headache with a drooping eyelid, dilated pupil, and double vision, seek medical attention.
Common causes of headaches include:
- poor posture;
- taking too many painkillers;
- cold or flu;
- excessive alcohol consumption;
- menstruation or menopause (hormonal headaches);
- vision problems;
- stress
- insufficient fluid intake (dehydration).
Also, read about 7 ways to reduce stress and bring your blood pressure to normal.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
