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Headaches - danger signs
Migraine headache - danger signs; Tension headache - danger signs; Cluster headache - danger signs; Vascular headache - danger signs
A headache is a pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck.
Headache
A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better...
Common types of headaches include tension headaches , migraine or cluster headaches , sinus headaches, and headaches that begin in your neck. You may have a mild headache with a cold , the flu , or other viral illnesses when you also have a low fever.
Tension headaches
A tension headache is the most common type of headache. It is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck, and is often associated with muscle ti...
Migraine
A migraine is a type of headache. It may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound. In many people, a throbbi...
Cluster headaches
A cluster headache is a type of headache. It is one-sided head pain that may involve tearing of the eyes, a droopy eyelid, and a stuffy nose. Attac...
Cold
The common cold most often causes a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, or other symptoms....
Flu
The flu is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs. It spreads easily. This article discusses influenza types A and B. Another type of the flu ...
Most people with headaches feel better by making lifestyle changes, such as learning ways to relax. Taking certain medicines, such as pain medicine, may also help.
Emergency Causes of Headaches
Problems with blood vessels and bleeding in the brain can cause a headache. These problems include:
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Abnormal connection between the arteries and veins in the brain that usually forms before birth. This problem is called an
arteriovenous malformation
, or AVM.
Arteriovenous malformation
A cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins in the brain that usually forms before birth....
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Blood flow to part of the brain stops. This is called a
stroke
.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...
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Weakening of the wall of a blood vessel that can break open and bleed into the brain. This is known as a
brain aneurysm
.
Brain aneurysm
An aneurysm is a weak area in the wall of a blood vessel that causes the blood vessel to bulge or balloon out. When an aneurysm occurs in a blood ve...
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Bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissue that covers the brain. This is called a
subarachnoid hemorrhage
.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain. This area is called the subarachnoid sp...
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Other causes of headaches that should be checked by a health care provider right away include:
-
Blood pressure
that is very high
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...
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Brain tumor
Brain tumor
A primary brain tumor is a group (mass) of abnormal cells that start in the brain.
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Buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to brain swelling (
hydrocephalus
)
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is a buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to brain swelling. Hydrocephalus means "water on the brain. "
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Buildup of pressure inside the skull that appears to be, but is not, a tumor (
pseudotumor cerebri
)
Pseudotumor cerebri
Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition in which the pressure inside the skull is increased. The brain is affected in a way that the condition appears to...
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Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that causes thousands of deaths each year in North America. Breathing in carbon monoxide is very dangerous. It i...
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Infection in the brain
or
the tissue that surrounds the brain
, as well as a
brain abscess
Infection in the brain
Encephalitis is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the brain, most often due to infections.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleThe tissue that surrounds the brain
Meningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.
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A brain abscess is a collection of pus, immune cells, and other material in the brain, usually from a bacterial or fungal infection.
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Swollen, inflamed artery that supplies blood to part of the head, temple, and neck area (
temporal arteritis
)
Temporal arteritis
Temporal arteritisis inflammation and damage to the blood vessels that supply blood to the head, neck, upper body and arms. It is also called giant ...
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When to Call the Doctor
If you cannot see your provider right away, go to the emergency room or call 911 if:
- This is the first severe headache you have ever had in your life and it interferes with your daily activities.
- You develop a headache right after activities such as weightlifting, aerobics, jogging, or sex.
- Your headache comes on suddenly and is explosive or violent.
- Your headache is "the worst ever," even if you regularly get headaches.
- You also have slurred speech, a change in vision, problems moving your arms or legs, loss of balance, confusion, or memory loss with your headache.
- Your headache gets worse over 24 hours.
- You also have fever, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting with your headache.
- Your headache occurs with a head injury.
- Your headache is severe and just in 1 eye, with redness in that eye.
- You just started getting headaches, especially if your are older than 50.
- You have headaches along with vision problems and pain while chewing, or weight loss.
- You have a history of cancer and develop a new headache.
- Your immune system is weakened by disease (such as HIV infection) or by medicines (such as chemotherapy drugs and steroids).
See your provider soon if:
- Your headaches wake you up from sleep.
- A headache lasts more than a few days.
- Headaches are worse in the morning.
- You have a history of headaches but they have changed in pattern or intensity .
- You have headaches often and there is no known cause.
References
Digre KB. Headaches and other head pain. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 398.
Garza I, Schwedt TJ, Robertson CE, Smith JH. Headache and other craniofacial pain. In: Daroff RB, Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, eds. Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 103.
Kwiatkowski T, Friedman BW. Headache disorders. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2013:chap 103.
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Headache - illustration
Headaches are usually caused by either muscle tension, vascular problems, or both. Migraines are vascular in origin, and may be preceded by visual disturbances, loss of peripheral vision, and fatigue. Most headaches can be relieved or ameliorated by over-the-counter pain medications.
Headache
illustration
-
Tension-type headache - illustration
The most common cause of tension-type headaches is muscle contraction in the head, neck or shoulders.
Tension-type headache
illustration
-
CT scan of the brain - illustration
A CT or CAT scan (computed tomography) is a much more sensitive imaging technique than x-ray, allowing high definition not only of the bony structures, but of the soft tissues. Clear images of organs such as the brain, muscles, joint structures, veins and arteries, as well as anomalies like tumors and hemorrhages may be obtained with or without the injection of contrasting dye.
CT scan of the brain
illustration
-
Migraine headache - illustration
Symptoms of a migraine attack may include heightened sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, auras (loss of vision in one eye or tunnel vision), difficulty of speech and intense pain predominating on one side of the head.
Migraine headache
illustration
-
Headache - illustration
Headaches are usually caused by either muscle tension, vascular problems, or both. Migraines are vascular in origin, and may be preceded by visual disturbances, loss of peripheral vision, and fatigue. Most headaches can be relieved or ameliorated by over-the-counter pain medications.
Headache
illustration
-
Tension-type headache - illustration
The most common cause of tension-type headaches is muscle contraction in the head, neck or shoulders.
Tension-type headache
illustration
-
CT scan of the brain - illustration
A CT or CAT scan (computed tomography) is a much more sensitive imaging technique than x-ray, allowing high definition not only of the bony structures, but of the soft tissues. Clear images of organs such as the brain, muscles, joint structures, veins and arteries, as well as anomalies like tumors and hemorrhages may be obtained with or without the injection of contrasting dye.
CT scan of the brain
illustration
-
Migraine headache - illustration
Symptoms of a migraine attack may include heightened sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, auras (loss of vision in one eye or tunnel vision), difficulty of speech and intense pain predominating on one side of the head.
Migraine headache
illustration
Review Date: 1/5/2016
Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
