As the name suggests, a thunderclap headache strikes very suddenly like a lightning bolt, inflicting pain that peaks in intensity within 60 seconds, persists and then subsides usually after an hour. Thunderclap headaches are usually a symptom of subarachnoid hemorrhage, which can be fatal in itself, or also lead to a stroke.

If the intensity of your regular migraines has suddenly ratcheted up, that’s something worthy of your doctor’s attention. This doesn’t mean you’re getting headaches more often, just that your headache feels both severe and different from what you normally experience. If that’s the case, you should get to the ER stat.

A bad headache accompanied by high fever is cause for concern. It could indicate an infection of the brain. It could also be a warning sign of encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. If you can’t keep alert during this time, call for help immediately.

In most cases, the placement of your headache isn’t an indication of anything scary but if your headache is tightly focused in one or both of your temples, that could be a sign of temporal arteritis, a condition in which the arteries in your temples become inflamed.

If you have a headache with eye pain, and especially if you have a change in your vision, that’s an emergency. The upper neck region, behind the eyes and at the back of the head will feel tender when touched, and may be accompanied with a burning sensation.

If you suffer a headache within the first 10 days of a head injury, you might have developed a concussion. In most cases, it isn’t fatal but could impair the quality of your life and sleep cycle. Seek help in any case.

If you have a headache characterised by a shooting pain and your neck feels excessively stiff, you are probably suffering from meningitis – an inflammation of the brain that can be fatal if not treated quickly.

If people around you are complaining about their heads at the same time you’re experiencing an unusual ache, that could be a sign of Carbon Dioxide poisoning. Open the windows immediately and have the space inspected for a CO2 leak.

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