The Skinny on Headaches
More than 9 out of 10 adults will experience headaches in their lifetimes. It is the most common form of pain and, when left untreated, can interfere with daily activities at work and at home. Headaches are often cited as reasons for missing work, school and special events, and can range from mild tension headaches to agonizing cluster headaches, sometimes called suicide headaches.
There are two classifications for headaches: primary headaches, which occur independently and are not caused by another medical condition. Migraine, cluster and tension headache are some common forms of primary headache. Secondary headaches are symptoms of another health disorder and are caused by pain-sensitive nerve endings being pushed or pulled out of place. Headaches can arise from conditions like fever, infection, stress, high blood pressure, psychiatric disorders, head trauma, stroke, tumors or nerve disorders.
According to Dr. Andrew Bauer with the Cleveland Clinic in Florida, “Headaches are a fairly common occurrence, but experiencing a sudden, severe headache could be a sign of a more serious, life-threatening condition. Up to 6 percent of the population could be living with an unruptured brain aneurysm, while an estimated 300,000 people will experience a brain aneurysm within the next year. The key to overcoming a brain aneurysm is early detection and interventional treatments.”
Because secondary headaches can be early warning signs of life-threatening conditions, like aneurysm or stroke, it’s important to seek medical attention when your headache feels unusual. In the case of stroke, for example, doctors have what is called a “Golden Hour” when treatments will be most effective at minimizing and reversing the stroke's damage. Putting off medical treatment in the case of something like stroke means putting yourself at risk for more serious or permanent damage or death.