Headaches You Should Not Take Lightly December 6
Are you having the worst headache of your life? Then it may be time for a trip to the emergency room.
Headaches are one of the physical symptoms that many people tend to take lightly, mainly because it can occur relatively frequently and at varying intensities, and normally simply repairs itself. One usually simply rests for a bit, sleeps it off or pops a pill; after a few minutes, the pain can actually go away.
It is, however, sometimes critical to be able to discern which types of headaches to dismiss and which ones need immediate medical attention. The sudden onset of a splitting headache – the kind you cannot recall ever having before – may be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition that will not repair itself after a few minutes stretched out on your bed.
The sign to watch out for is simple enough. If you previously feel fine and then suddenly get a very intense headache, coupled with neurological changes such as numbing or weakness in your arm or droopiness in your eyes as well as slurring in your speech, then it is time to dial 911 and get yourself to the emergency room as quickly as possible. This kind of headache may be indicative of a stroke or blood clot in the brain.
When you get to the emergency room it is also important to say the right things. It would be helpful to say that you are having what is probably the worst headache in your life so that emergency room physicians can draw up a list of possible conditions and start ruling them out; physicians may think of brain tumors or an infection that may be producing the headache. An example of such an infection will be meningitis, if the headache is coupled with fever and a stiff neck.
Another condition that can cause pain that will be intense enough to push you in the direction of the ER is a migraine. There are people who get migraines so severe that the pain would be unbearable; once identified, though, being under the care of a physician and being provided with the appropriate medication will help in managing the pain.
Tags: headache blood clot, headaches with speech slur, migraine, severe headaches, unusual headaches