People should never ignore a really intense headache and get themselves to A&E as soon as possible, a TV doctor has warned. A rare type of headache can be one of the few symptoms of a brain condition.
Dr Amir Khan, best known for his appearances on ITV daytime programmes like Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, shared an important piece of health advice that could be life-saving. Acting quickly could catch a serious problem that starts as the « worst headache of a person’s life ».
Speaking on his No Appointment Necessary podcast, he said: « A sudden bleed in the brain is a very different presentation – it’s called a thunderclap headache. It feels like you’ve been hit in the back of the head by a cricket bat, it is so awful.
« If that happens, you must just go to A&E, call 999, get someone to drive you because that could be a bleed and that needs an urgent scan and sorting out as soon as possible. »
What is a thunderclap headache?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a thunderclap headache comes in two forms. It can either be ‘primary’ or ‘secondary’.
There are certain type sof headaches – including primary and secondary. A primary headache is a type of headache that recurs and isn’t caused by any other medical issue, disease, or injury.
These headaches make up more than 90% of all headache cases. They are usually not dangerous, but they can really affect a person’s ability to do things. Primary headaches can be caused by something as simple as « a cough, heavy exercise, exertion or sexual activity », Dr Amir Khan says.
Secondary headaches are signs of a deeper problem—like an infection, an injury, or blood vessel issues—that leads to the pain. These are the headaches that could be « potentially life-threatening » without treatment.
Secondary headaches could be a sign of bleeding in the space around your brain, brain aneurysms, or a restriction in the vessels that supply blood to your brain. Some ‘thunderclap’ headaches require surgery to repair torn or ruptured blood vessels. If a thunderclap headache isn’t associated with an urgent underlying condition, patients may treat it with medication.
How to tell if my headache is a thunderclap or not
Typical headaches (such as tension or migraine) usually build up over time and can persist for some time after onset. In the case of a thunderclap, it should be almost instant to recognise the difference. Thunderclap headaches reach maximum intensity in less than one minute and are often described as the worst headache of a person’s life.
- Weakness or numbness
- Fever and stiff neck
- Confusion or altered mental state
- Vision changes (blurriness, loss of vision)
- Seizures
- Difficulty speaking or walking
Because they come on without warning, it’s difficult to prevent thunderclap headaches. Managing underlying health conditions and avoiding triggers are the best ways to prevent them.
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