5 Things You Need to Know About Sudden Headaches

1. Know if It's a Migraine or Sudden Headache

Some people are prone to headaches, while others seldom get them. An occasional headache can come from eyestrain, muscle tightness from stress, allergies and sinus infections. Migraines are severe headaches that can last for hours, but sufferers can feel one coming on and know how to treat it. Migraine relief usually usually comes with a combination of the right medication, a quiet and dark environment and remaining still. Although cluster headaches and migraine headaches are severe, these headaches aren't classified as a sudden headache. A sudden headache is often severe and feels like the worst headache you've ever had.

2. Is It Sudden and Extreme?

A sudden and severe headache must be taken seriously, especially if you experience other symptoms along with it. If you experience blurred vision or double vision, numbness or paralysis, weakness or a fever and stiff neck, seek emergency help immediately. If a headache causes extreme pain that continues, you need to seek emergency care. If a sudden headache wakes you from a sound sleep or if the frequency, duration or intensity of a headache changes, you need to contact a doctor. If a migraine lasts longer than 72 hours, get to the emergency room.

3. Understand the Causes of an Extreme Headace

A headache that causes extreme pain or comes on suddenly is a scary situation. Most of us leap to the conclusion that we must have a brain tumor--what else could it be? Well, it could be a lot of things that aren't as scary as a brain tumor. Temporal arteritis is an inflammation of the arteries in the head and can cause sudden headaches. Trigeminal neuralgia is an inflammation of the trigeminal facial nerve; the sudden headache is accompanied by extreme pain just by touching areas of the face. Other serious causes of sudden headache include a brain tumor, stroke, meningitis or head injury.

4. Diagnosing Your Headache

Headaches are classified as either primary or secondary. Primary headaches, such as cluster headaches, migraines or tension headaches don't result from another cause. A secondary headache is the direct result of another cause, such as infection, stroke, tumor or injury. A major part of the diagnosis is to determine whether the sudden headache is primary or secondary. The doctor will do a complete history and physical, followed by blood tests and a complete neurological exam. An EEG (electroencephalogram) may be ordered to measure brain activity. The doctor may also order a CT scan or an MRI.

5. Easing the Pain

Medications are prescribed to relieve the pain, such as an anti-inflammatory medication. The doctor may have you reduce stress with meditation or relaxation techniques and music or sound therapy for migraine or cluster headaches. Treatment for the more serious causes of sudden headache will depend on the cause.