21 November 2024 | 16:36

If a headache is a tumor or just a cold, neurologist explains

Photo:elements.envato.com

Tengrinews.kz - Neurologist Dr Baibing Chen shared how to determine whether a headache is a sign of a deadly brain tumor or just a bad cold, according to the Daily Mail.

Headaches are a common condition, and people usually don’t worry about them, but sometimes they are the first sign of a life-threatening condition, such as a brain hemorrhage or even a cancerous tumor.

US neurologist Baibing Chen posted advice on Instagram on how to distinguish a severe headache from a harmless one. According to him, two specific symptoms are a red flag.

"If a headache suddenly feels different, such as thunderclap headache, or it's lasting longer (than usual) it could be of something serious like a bleed or tumour or aneurysm," he said.

According to the British National Health Service (NHS), named after a weather phenomenon, thunderclap headaches are sudden agonising pains that feel similar to being hit in the head, resulting in "blinding pain unlike anything experienced before." Sudden thunderclap headaches can be a sign of a ruptured blood vessel in the brain, which can lead to lifelong disability, coma and even death.

If headaches are new or become more frequent, doctors recommend visiting a general practitioner (GP), as headaches can also be a sign of a brain tumour.

As well as spotting warning signs of brain disorders, Dr Chen suggested ways to prevent neurological conditions, including the dreaded "locked in syndrome." This happens when the brainstem is damaged, causing the paralysis of voluntary muscles, except for those that control your vertical eye movements. People with the disorder are conscious but unable to speak or move.

Dr Chen said neck manipulation - a technique used by some chiropractors - could put patients at risk of developing the devastating condition. The treatment involves manually manipulating the bones at the top of his spine to relieve neck pain. He said he wouldn't have the technique himself because of the risk of something going horribly wrong.

"A stroke in the brainstem can lead to one of the scariest things I've ever seen and it's called ‘locked-in syndrome’, where you're fully aware but can't move or speak," the doctor said.

Last but not least, the doctor said, is a lack of regular quality sleep.

"Chronic sleep deprivation can increase the risk of dementia and lead to a host of neurological issues. So even with a busy schedule at the hospital and coming home to two little kids I try my best to get quality sleep and get at least six hours when I can," the doctor said.

The NHS recommends that most adults need around seven to nine hours of quality sleep a day.

Author - Nuray Kapen

doctors health Healthcare weather

Вопрос от редакции

Что вы об этом думаете?