Headaches usually develop as pain or discomfort in the head and face region. Its intensity ranges from dull pain to throbbing pulsating sensations. There are several underlying risk factors and causes ranging from exertion to progressive chronic disorders. But no two headaches develop the same way, and this pain or discomfort should be treated promptly to avoid serious health complications. Following are the five alarming signs of headaches that require immediate medical attention.

A pressure or squeezing sensation
Tension headaches trigger a squeezing or pressure sensation on both sides of the head. It is the most common form of discomfort experienced by adults purely as a result of over-exertion and stress. The experience is described as someone holding the head on both sides and squeezing it with all their might. Tension pain is also slow and develops gradually around the head and neck base, progressing to the sides. Other symptoms like nausea, vomiting or increased light sensitivity can develop simultaneously. Most types of tension headaches can be treated with oral prescriptions.

Severe unbearable pain
Sometimes, pain can become so unbearable that it will affect daily routine and sleep. Adults over 50 are generally at a high risk of developing hypnic headaches. They cause dull, stabbing, throbbing, burning, and pulsating pain, not essentially in that order and with varying degrees of severity. Women are at high risk of experiencing these headaches. Metabolic changes due to an overactive thyroid and hypertension are among the known underlying health complications that can cause hypnic headaches.

Fever and stiff neck
Underlying health complications and chronic disorders are common culprits associated with headaches and migraines. For example, neurological disorders like meningitis or encephalitis cause inflammation of the brain cells and membrane that protects the organ. Fever and stiff neck are among the first warning signs of these conditions. Headaches that develop with these symptoms are a clear sign of progression in underlying diseases. Encephalitis and meningitis can also cause thunderclap headaches. This pain develops in less than a minute, starting in the head and progressing quickly towards the neck and lower back region. Immediate medical attention is necessary with this pain as it could result from an arterial brain aneurysm, stroke, or any injury that triggers bleeding in the brain tissue.

Unexplained discomforts
If there are no underlying health complications, new pain can still develop and trigger discomforts associated with headaches and migraines. Any pain that develops suddenly after the age of 50, with abrupt changes in the location of the ache, frequency, and severity, are alarming signs to monitor. These aches may worsen, causing weakness, slurred speech, and vision problems. Pattern headaches are a common discomfort among women who experience menopause due to changes in the hormone.

Vision problems
Headaches can also be triggered due to migraines. And one of the alarming signs associated with migraines is vision problems in one or both eyes. That is because migraines trigger visual disturbances caused by muscle spasms in the retina. This can result in temporary vision loss and a sensation of flashing lights in one eye. Commonly referred to as migraines with auras, these symptoms should not be ignored. Also, understand that some people might experience vision problems in both eyes. So no two symptoms are the same, as factors like age, gender, overall health, and immunity determine the progression of these discomforts.