Learn How Serious Your Headaches Really Are

It's a shame our bodies can't speak to us a little clearer. About 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed each year, but the reason why is that one set of symptoms might point to a wide variety of diseases.

And one of the most frustrating and hard to place signs that something is wrong is a headache. A headache could be a sign of some serious, life-threatening illnesses, or it could be as simple as tension from the stresses of the day. So how do you tell which is which?

Fortunately, doctors have figured out what kind of headaches you really need to watch out for and we're going to go through them for you!

Please SHARE this on Facebook and help your friends figure out how serious their headaches really are.

As I've said, there are all sorts of different headaches you could have.

Most of the time, you're going to get a tension headache, a sinus headache or a migraine. These usually come with a dull pain and build slowly.

But some headaches can be signs of a stroke, an aneurysm, a brain tumor, or bleeding in the brain.

In rare cases, they can even mean your arteries and veins aren't connected properly.

So if you get any of the following headaches, contact a doctor immediately.

If a headache is sudden and unbearable, it's a "thunderclap headache."

They're usually at their worst after 60 seconds and are often a sign of bleeding in the brain. 

Watch out if you get a headache after exercise or sex. 

These might be symptoms of a brain tumor or an aneurysm.

A serious headache can also slur your speech or blur your vision.

They may also cause balancing troubles, confusion or memory loss, which are also signs of a stroke.

Be careful if you can describe what you're having as "the worst ever" headache.

Even if headaches are common for you, an extreme one needs medical attention.

It's also a bad sign if you start getting headaches when you're over 55.

If you've never had headaches before or are getting different headaches than you're used to, talk to a doctor.

And it's also bad news if you get one after a head injury.

It's a likely a concussion, which can lead to brain damage if you don't get treatment.

If your headache is centered around one eye, that's called a cluster headache.

The affected eye often goes red. These can be a sign of a brain tumor or an aneurysm.

Cluster headaches are also linked to nausea and vomiting.

But if you also have a severely stiff neck or a fever, it could be meningitis.

Watch out if your headache gets worse after 24 hours.

Sometimes a headache can last for over 24 hours, but if you find it getting worse after that long, it's time to call the doctor.

If you have a history of cancer, be careful when you get a new kind of headache.

Sadly, this new headache may be warning you about a brain tumor.

Please SHARE this article if you know someone who might be having these serious headaches.

Main image via New Health Advisor

Collage image via Healthypage