Red flag symptoms, secondary headaches, when to seek emergency care
A throbbing headache with a red, aching eye, blurred vision or halos around lights can be acute angle-closure glaucoma, not migraine. Here is how I tell them apart.
A headache that builds over days, worsens lying down, and comes with a clotting risk may be cerebral venous thrombosis. A neurologist explains why a normal CT can miss it and what to ask for.
A headache during sex is usually a harmless primary headache — but the same trigger can unmask a brain bleed. Here’s how I tell them apart.
A new headache with one-sided neck pain after a twist, adjustment or hard gym session can mean a torn neck artery. A neurologist on the warning window and the right scan.
Most postpartum headaches are exhaustion and hormones. A few signal preeclampsia, a spinal leak, or a clot. Here’s how I tell them apart.
A thunderclap headache reaching peak intensity within 1 minute may signal subarachnoid hemorrhage, RCVS, or arterial dissection. Learn the ICHD-3 definition, Ottawa SAH Rule, CT and lumbar puncture workup, and red flags requiring immediate ER visit.
Most headaches are benign, but these 7 warning signs require immediate ER care.
