“Red flags” for secondary disorders include sudden onset of headache, onset of headache after 50 years of age, increased frequency or severity of headache, new onset of headache with an underlying medical condition, headache with concomitant systemic illness, focal neurologic signs or symptoms, papilledema and headache ...
“Red flag signs and symptoms include focal neurologic signs, papilledema, neck stiffness, an immunocompromised state, sudden onset of the worst headache in the patient's life, personality changes, headache after trauma, and headache that is worse with exercise.”
Blue and red flag headaches are those in which some feature of the history or examination suggests that the headache is due to a secondary cause. Blue flag features (Table 3) indicate secondary headaches that do not require urgent investigation. Red flag features require urgent attention (Table 4).
You also have slurred speech, a change in vision, problems moving your arms or legs, loss of balance, confusion, or memory loss with your headache. Your headache gets worse over 24 hours. You also have fever, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting with your headache.
Headaches that are accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, decreased alertness or memory, or neurological symptoms such as visual disturbances, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or seizures. Headaches that are accompanied by a painful red eye. Headaches that are accompanied by pain and tenderness near the ...
Seek immediate medical attention if you're experiencing the worst headache you've ever had, lose vision or consciousness, have uncontrollable vomiting, or if your headache lasts more than 72 hours with less than 4 hours pain-free.
A Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.
A toxic headache is the least common type of vascular headache that usually comes from a fever from acute illnesses such as measles, mumps, pneumonia and tonsillitis. Common hazards in our environment also cause toxic headaches with exposure.
Seek immediate medical attention if a headache: Comes on suddenly and very quickly becomes severe. Feels like the worst headache in your life. Is accompanied by a stiff neck and/or fever.
Conditions that might cause nonprimary chronic daily headaches include: Inflammation or other problems with the blood vessels in and around the brain, including stroke. Infections, such as meningitis. Intracranial pressure that's either too high or too low.
Vomiting, seizures, and changes in mood or mental state may indicate increased intracranial pressure. Calll for URGENT referral.
Our bodies' give is warning signs that tell us when we are not feeling well that can be related to our thoughts and anxieties. We can feel dizzy, headaches, constant stomachaches, heart racing, etc. If these symptoms are everyday and persistent, it is a “red flag”.
The rule of thumb is that you should start a more thorough medical investigation only when all three of these conditions are met, three general red flags for neck pain: it's been bothering you for more than about 6 weeks. it's severe and/or not improving, or actually getting worse.
Signs of High Blood Pressure
Severe headache. Difficulty breathing. Fatigue or confusion. Irregular heartbeat.
Normally, tension headaches are not severe enough to prevent you doing everyday activities. They usually last for 30 minutes to several hours, but can last for several days.
How long is too long for a headache? Headaches usually go away within 4 hours, but it's not uncommon for the head pain to persist for longer. If your headache persists for longer than 72 hours, however, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Cluster Headaches
These headaches are the most severe. You could have intense burning or piercing pain behind or around one eye. It can be throbbing or constant. The pain can be so bad that most people with cluster headaches can't sit still and will often pace during an attack.
Pain from a dehydration headache can range from mild to severe. You may feel pain all over your head or in just one spot, such as the back, front or side. The pain is usually like a dull ache, but it can also be sharp. You may have a throbbing (pounding) headache, or the pain might be constant.
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Stress and muscle tension are often factors in these headaches. Tension headaches typically don't cause nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. They do cause a steady ache, rather than a throbbing one, and tend to affect both sides of the head.