Thunderclap Headache, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Thunderclap Headache, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

A thunderclap headache is a very painful headache that happens suddenly, like a clap of thunder.

This type of headache achieves its most intense pain within 1 minute and persists at least 5 minutes.

Thunderclap headaches attack a person suddenly without any warning.

Some of these headaches are benign (not dangerous).

They can also be a sign of very serious underlying disorders that involve bleeding in and around the brain.

It is important to obtain medical attention immediately to exclude life-threatening causes of a thunderclap headache.

The International Headache Society describes a primary thunderclap headache as a high-intensity headache of abrupt start imitating that of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm, in the absence of any intracranial pathology.

This type of headache pain does not slowly build in intensity.

Instead, it is an extreme and very painful headache as soon as it begins.

In fact, it is often described as the worse headache of one's life.

A thunderclap headache may be an indication of a disorder that can be life-threatening.

It may be related to some sort of bleeding in the brain.

It is essential that the patient seeks medical attention if the patient thinks the patient may be having one.

It may also have a benign cause that is not life-threatening but should still be evaluated immediately to find out what is causing it.

Primary TCH is infrequent and should not have the symptoms of misrepresented cognition and focal neurological deficits.

Around 75% of thunderclap headaches are indicated to be primary headaches.

This headache type is due to pain structures inside the brain.

At occasions the brain structures may become overactive or malfunction.

This causes a brain pain disorder with no underlying disorder.

A primary thunderclap can also be produced by chemical imbalances within the brain or even hereditary factors.

In the same way, lifestyle factors such as stress, certain foods, particular substances, changes in sleep patterns, or loss of sleep etc. can also activate them.

Secondary

The remainder 25% happens due to underlying causes or diseases that stimulate the pain sensors within the brain.

A secondary thunderclap can, hence, be serious and occasionally even life-threatening if not treated instantly.

Some causes of secondary thunderclap headaches are brain aneurysms, broken or damaged blood vessels in the brain, blood clots, concussion, and other physical injuries etc.

As the patient can see, when happening in secondary form, they possibly manifest greater immediate danger than primary headaches do.

Before making any conclusions, the patient can consult the doctor to receive an accurate diagnosis.

Once a doctor identifies what has happened, they will be in a position to provide a suitable treatment plan

These symptoms can be:

1. Severe headache pain that begins out of nowhere
2. Vomiting and nausea
3. Fainting
4. Feeling as if it is the worst possible headache the patient has ever had
5. Pain felt anywhere in the head
6. Headache pain such as the neck or lower back

After a physical evaluation and getting information about the symptoms, the doctor will normally begin with a CT scan.

CT scans will often be sufficient for the doctor to find the cause.

If necessary a lumbar puncture may be done for CSF tests
The treatments are directed on treating the cause of the headache.

Treatments may be:

1. Surgery to repair a tear or blockage
2. Medicines to control blood pressure
3. Pain medicines to regulate recurrent thunderclap headaches, mainly those that have a specific trigger

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction

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