[38M] Experiencing severe headache with associated symptoms

What might be happening

Based on the information you've provided, the following conditions could be causing your symptoms:

• Migraine: This is a type of headache that can cause severe throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities.

  • Treatment: Over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription medications can help manage the symptoms of a migraine. Lifestyle changes, such as managing stress and avoiding certain foods, can also help prevent migraines.

• Tension headache: This is the most common type of headache, and it causes a constant ache and pressure around your head, temples, or the back of your head and neck. It's often described as a tight band around your forehead or at the back of your head.

  • Treatment: Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen, can help relieve the pain of a tension headache. Prescription medications, including some antidepressants, can be effective in preventing tension headaches.

• Cluster headache: This is a rare type of headache that occurs in clusters for a month or two at a time followed by remission periods when the headaches stop. During a cluster period, headaches usually occur every day, sometimes several times a day. A single attack can last from 15 minutes to three hours.

  • Treatment: The primary types of medications to treat cluster headaches are fast-acting abortive agents to relieve the pain of an attack and preventive medications to avoid future attacks.

• Stroke: This is a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Symptoms of a stroke can include trouble with speaking and understanding, paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg, trouble with seeing in one or both eyes, headache, and difficulty walking.

  • Treatment: Emergency treatment for stroke depends on whether you're having an ischemic stroke blocking an artery — the most common kind — or a hemorrhagic stroke involving bleeding into the brain.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and other conditions could also be causing your symptoms.

What you can do

Given the severity of your symptoms and the possibility of a serious condition such as a stroke, you should seek immediate medical attention. Please go to the nearest emergency department or call an ambulance.

What you should look out for

If you experience any of the following symptoms, it's crucial that you seek immediate medical attention:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Please remember that while I strive to provide accurate information, I am not a doctor and this advice should not replace a consultation with a healthcare professional.