Advocate Trinity Hospital issued the following announcement on April 17.
Usually, it’s clear when a headache is just a headache. But how can you tell if the pain is actually something more dangerous?
Dr. Hamad Farhat, a neurosurgeon at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., says that headaches can be a sign of serious health issues such as carbon monoxide poisoning, a concussion, stroke or high blood pressure.
Migraines usually only affect one side of the head, will last for about two to 72 hours and are typically made worse by physical activity or certain lights, sounds or smells. With the help of rest and ibuprofen, the migraine should eventually fade.
Alternatively, Dr. Farhat says the below signs usually indicate that your brain pain may be an emergency or something much worse than a migraine:
Slurred speech
Vision changes
Dizziness and confusion
Inability to move your arms or legs on one side of the body
Nausea
High fever
The pain comes suddenly instead of forming gradually over time
You’d describe the pain as the worst you’ve ever experienced
The pain is limiting your ability to function or do everyday tasks
“While migraines may cause blurred vision or feelings of nausea, it’s important to remember that emergent headaches typically are described as the worst ever experienced, involve more than one of the above symptoms or happen quickly and abruptly,” says Dr. Farhat. “If you feel like your headache is more than just a migraine or regular headache, you should never second guess yourself. See a physician immediately or call 911.”
Below are some other headache-related items Dr. Farhat says you should discuss with your doctor but may not warrant a 911 call:
You’re experiencing headaches that are waking you up at night or that are worse in the morning
You’re experiencing a headache that has lingered for consecutive days but isn’t necessarily interfering with your day-to-day activities
You experience headaches regularly
You’re 50 years old or older and are experiencing headaches for the first time.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Advocate Trinity Hospital
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