Q My headache is so severe that I'm worried it might be a brain hemorrhage or a brain tumor.
A If it is accompanied by changes in consciousness, motor paralysis, or a sudden drop in vision, go to the emergency room immediately. Cluster headache is characterized by a recurring pattern without these symptoms.
Detailed Answer
Warning Signs That Require an Immediate Emergency Room Visit
- A sudden thunderclap headache (the worst headache of your life, peaking within one second)
- Reduced consciousness, confusion, or slurred speech
- Paralysis of one arm or leg, or facial asymmetry
- A sudden, severe drop in vision
- High fever and a stiff neck
If you have these symptoms, it may not be a cluster headache, so you must receive an immediate emergency neurological evaluation.
The Characteristic Pattern of Cluster Headache
Cluster headache is characterized by short, repetitive one-sided pain around the eye socket and autonomic symptoms, without the warning signs above. Unlike a stroke or tumor, the patient is completely normal between attacks. At Dongjedang, we always confirm whether a differential diagnosis has been made at the first visit.
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