The characteristics of a migraine headache include the sudden onset of a throbbing pain that worsens with head movement. Because it is rare for people over the age of 50 to develop migraine headaches, it is imperative to rule out age-related conditions such as a stroke, low blood sugar and head injuries before attempting to diagnosis and treat a migraine in the elder population, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. For older adults, the sudden onset of severe head pain warrants immediate evaluation by a medical care professional.
Hemorrhagic Stroke or Ruptured Aneurysm
The sudden onset of severe head pain may be a symptom of a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, says Dr. Casilda Balmaceda, an assistant professor neurology at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Although approximately 50 percent of stroke patients experience a severe headache before or during a hemorrhagic stroke, Dr. Balmaceda warns that treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen or aspirin may provide temporary relief and cause the patient and the physician to overlook the real cause of the headache. According to the American Heart Association, any person who experiences a possible stroke symptom for longer than a few minutes should immediately call for an emergency response team.
Temporal Arteritis
A severe, throbbing headache is a frequent symptom of temporal or giant cell arteritis. Particularly common in older adults between 70 and 80 years of age, temporal arteritis is an inflammation of the blood vessels in the temples on each side of the head. According to MayoClinic.com, because the symptoms of giant cell arteritis are similar to many other conditions, an accurate diagnosis may require a thorough medical examination, blood tests and a biopsy. Although the symptoms of giant cell arteritis usually respond to steroid treatments, if untreated, temporal arteritis can result in blindness.
Acute Closed-angle Glaucoma
A sudden throbbing pain in the forehead or behind the eyes may be a symptom of an acute closed-angle glaucoma attack. Acute closed-angle glaucoma results when a sudden increase in intraocular pressure blocks the flow of fluid between the iris and lens of the eye. Severe headache or eye pain are symptoms of acute glaucoma, and because only one eye may be involved, the patient may interpret the initial symptoms as a migraine headache. The Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins warns that acute closed-angle glaucoma is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention in order to prevent further damage to the optic nerve or total vision loss.
