Title: Neurologists Outline Critical Warning Signs in Headaches That Demand Medical Attention
In a vital public health advisory, neurologists in Iran are highlighting specific “red flag” symptoms associated with headaches that citizens should not ignore. While headaches are among the most common ailments globally, affecting nearly one in three people, experts emphasize that certain types, particularly those emerging after the age of 50, require immediate professional evaluation to prevent serious complications.
When a Headache is More Than Just a Pain
According to Dr. Golhareh Bani-Hashemi, a specialist in neurology, not all headaches are cause for alarm. However, recognizing key warning signs and seeking timely medical consultation is crucial.
“All headaches are not worrying,” Dr. Bani-Hashemi stated, “but knowing the alert symptoms and visiting a doctor promptly, especially for sudden or severe headaches, or those accompanied by neurological symptoms or occurring in older age, can prevent their serious consequences.”
She clarified that these symptoms do not automatically indicate a severe illness but signal that a headache should be examined by a physician, preferably a neurologist. In some cases, further diagnostic imaging like an MRI may be deemed necessary for a more precise assessment.
Key Warning Signs Requiring a Doctor’s Visit
The neurologist provided a detailed list of scenarios that constitute red flags or require careful medical consideration:
- The presence of underlying diseases or a history of serious illnesses in other organs.
- A history of infectious diseases.
- Headaches accompanied by other symptoms, such as weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, balance disorders, or visual disturbances.
- The age factor, with headaches presenting for the first time after the age of 50.
- Headaches that are initiated or worsened by coughing or sneezing.
- Headaches that wake an individual from sleep in the middle of the night.
- Headaches exclusively experienced by individuals with high body weight.
Prevalent Headache Types in Iran
Shifting to the broader landscape of public health, Dr. Bani-Hashemi identified tension-type headaches and migraines as the most common types among the Iranian population.
“A tension-type headache is usually felt as a pressing, uniform sensation on both sides of the head, as if a band is tied tightly around it,” she described. “This type of headache is intensified by factors like sleep deprivation, stress, or psychological pressure, but it typically resolves.”
Migraine headaches, she explained, are often one-sided, throbbing, and aggravated by light, sound, or smell, sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting. “Migraine is highly correlated with an individual’s lifestyle, such as the quality of their sleep and nutrition,” she added.
This expert insight serves as a crucial guide for public awareness, underscoring the importance of proactive healthcare and informed medical consultation for a condition that affects a significant portion of the population.