When Are Headaches a Sign of Something More Serious?

Almost everyone experiences headaches from time to time, but not all headaches are created equal. While most are caused by stress, dehydration, or tension, some headaches can signal a more serious underlying condition. 

But how do you know when headaches are a sign of something more serious?

If you’re concerned about your headaches, our team of experts  encourages you to visit us here at  Link Neuroscience Institute. We can confirm the source of your headaches and recommend advanced headache treatments, including injections or peripheral nerve stimulation.

In the meantime, read on to learn more about headaches and when they might be a sign of something more serious.

Common causes of an everyday headache

The majority of headaches aren’t dangerous. Common, nonemergency causes include:

• Tension headaches from stress, poor posture, or jaw clenching (bruxism)
• Migraines triggered by certain foods, hormonal changes, a lack of sleep, or sensory stimuli
• Sinus headaches from allergies, viral infections, or bacterial infections
• Dehydration headaches

These headaches usually improve with rest, hydration, over-the-counter medication, or lifestyle adjustments.

Are everyday headaches serious?

Even though these types of headaches aren’t dangerous (and therefore don’t warrant a trip to the emergency room), they can most assuredly impact your quality of life. Lifestyle changes — such as avoiding dietary triggers or managing underlying allergies — can help reduce the frequency of your headaches.

If you’re one of the 50% of Americans with a headache disorder, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure out a pain-relief plan on your own. 

The Link Neuroscience Institute team may also recommend medication to stop active migraine attacks as well as to prevent future migraine attacks. Depending on the root cause of your headache, you may also benefit from medical Botox® injections, nerve blocks, cervical spinal cord stimulation, or peripheral nerve stimulation.

When to seek emergency medical attention for headaches

Sometimes head pain is a symptom of a more serious condition. You should seek immediate emergency care if you experience:

• Sudden, severe headache (AKA “the worst headache of your life”)
• Headache after head injury
• Headache with fever, stiff neck, rash, or confusion
• Headache with vision changes
• Headache with muscle weakness
• Difficulty speaking

These could indicate serious conditions like a brain aneurysm (30,000 of these rupture per year), meningitis, stroke, or bleeding in the brain. Call 911 if you suspect you have one of these conditions. (Don’t drive yourself to the hospital if you think you’re having a stroke.) 

When to seek neurological care for your headaches 

The treatment for the occasional everyday headache is one thing — like drinking water to fix a dehydration headache — and we’ve already covered the emergency symptoms. 

But what about headaches that don’t have an obvious, everyday cause? That’s where the SNOOP checklist comes in to help determine if you should get a neurological evaluation.

Here’s the acronym SNOOP to remember red flags:

• Systemic symptoms (fever, weight loss)
• Neurological symptoms (weakness, numbness)
• Onset sudden and severe
• Older age at onset (over 50)
• Progression or change in pattern

If your headache fits any of these categories, schedule a neurological evaluation in our Camarillo, Santa Barbara, or Oxnard, California, location right away. Our team can confirm the source of your head pain and recommend the right treatment — whether you’re dealing with a tumor, migraine disorder, traumatic brain injury, or stroke.

You can also call the location of your choice directly.