Table of contents:
- Sudden headachethunderclap headache
- Cause thunderclap headache
- How thunderclap headacheand the cause is diagnosed?
If the migraine feels more like a severe throbbing pain on one side of the head that can last 15 minutes to three hours, it's a headachethunderclap headacheis a sudden headache that feels like a bolt of lightning or the bursting of a burst of fireworks in a short period of time. Have you ever had a headache like this? To be clearer, consider the following review.
Sudden headachethunderclap headache
Literally, thunderclap headache it means thunder headaches or thunderclap headaches. This is because a thunderclap headache occurs suddenly and very quickly (less than a minute), like a thunderbolt when the weather is bad.
Dr. Todd Schwedt, a professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic told Healthline that pain thunderclap headache such as a sudden explosion or blow to the head. The pain from this severe headache peaks in 60 seconds.
In addition to sudden and severe headaches that last less than a minute, thunderclap headache can also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as:
- Nausea and vomiting followed.
- Fever.
- Body spasm.
- Visual disturbances.
- The body feels weak.
- The pain is not only in the head, but can spread to the neck and back.
Thunderclap headaches are rare, but can be a red flag of a potentially life-threatening condition. So if you experience the symptoms above, get emergency medical help immediately to prevent any fatal risks.
Cause thunderclap headache
The causes of sudden headaches are typical thunderclap headache usually associated with bleeding in and around the brain. Some of the following conditions can cause sudden and severe headaches, such as:
- Rupture of blood vessels in the brain
- Bleeding between the brain and the membrane covering the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage)
- There is a tear in the lining of the artery that supplies blood to the brain
- Blood clots in the brain
- High blood pressure that threatens the organs (hypertensive crisis)
- Tissue death or bleeding in the pituitary gland
- Brain infection, such as meningitis or encephalitis
- Ischemic stroke
- Leaking of cerebrospinal fluid due to a tear covering the nerve roots in the spine
Hard physical labor and using certain drugs, including illegal drugs, can also cause sudden headaches like thunder. Then, the habit of bathing with hot water that is first poured on the head can also trigger it
How thunderclap headacheand the cause is diagnosed?
Doctors can diagnose headaches thunderclap of your symptoms. To be sure, the doctor will suggest further medical tests, such as:
- CT scan of the head to see the condition of the brain.
- Lumbar puncture (LP), by taking a sample of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord to look for signs of bleeding or infection.
- MRI of the brain.
- Scanning of blood flow in the brain with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).
Doctors can then determine treatment options after knowing what the exact cause is. Treatment options for one person and another may differ, depending on the individual cause.
