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Most of us can pinpoint the cause for an occasional headache. From the headache that accompanies a sinus infection to that pounding in your head after a restless night of sleep, there is usually a clear reason for your misery. It’s when there is no clear reason that you might start to worry, especially if you are an older adult.
WebMD points out that headaches actually tend to decrease in frequency as a person gets older; after the age of 75, about 55% of women and 21% of men experience headaches. Compare that to younger generations, where 92% of women and 74% of men between the ages of 21 and 34 suffer from headaches.1 Even the incidence of migraines drops. Among those aged 70 and older, only 10% of women suffer from migraines and about 5% of men experience them as well.
But even as headaches tend to diminish with age, the ones seniors do have could be much more serious.
According to Practical Neurology, a new headache in someone over the age of 50 is enough to warrant concern from the doctor. The American College of Radiology states that a headache in someone 50 or older meets the criteria for imaging, such as CT or MRI scans.2 And the Handbook of Clinical Neurology says that headaches in the elderly are 12 times more likely to be an indication of a serious problem.3
Is it a simple headache or something more? Knowing the danger signs can help you recognize when a headache isn’t just a headache.
The Usual Types of Headaches
Medline defines a headache simply as “a pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck.” That’s a broad definition, but that widely encompassing definition is necessary to cover the different types of headache a person can experience.
The most common headaches include:4
· Tension headache. Almost everyone has had this at one time or another. They are usually triggered by stress and feel like a dull, aching pressure all over your head. You might also notice tenderness around your neck, forehead, and even your shoulders.
· Sinus headache. These occur when the sinus passages are inflamed. They go hand-in-hand with allergies, dry weather, or illness. They feel like a deep, constant ache that centers on the cheekbones, forehead, or nose. Moving your head can make the pain worse.
· Exertion headache. This usually happens following a period of intense activity, such as working out in the gym or running. These often affect both sides of the head as a throbbing sensation. They should quickly fade with rest.
· Migraine. These headaches can be severe enough to incapacitate you. Migraines can be over within 30 minutes or linger for several days. They might be accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and dizziness. They are often triggered by stress, lack of sleep, or changes in the weather.
· Cluster headache. These lead to severe pain around one eye or one side of the face. They often come with facial swelling, nasal congestion, sweating, drooping eyelids, and tearing of the eye on the same side as the headache. The pain can come and go.
· Hypnic headache. This is more common among those aged 40 to 79. This type of headache occurs only at night and tends to happen at the same time every night. They range from mild to severe and usually last for up to six hours at a time. Some people will experience these headaches every night for years.
· Hypertension headache. When your blood pressure rises to critical levels, usually defined as 180/110, these headaches result. You might have a throbbing pain in your head, vision changes, nosebleeds, and even chest pain and shortness of breath. These headaches are serious and require medical attention.
The common symptoms of a headache include pain or discomfort. You might also experience other symptoms with different types of headaches; for instance, a migraine can result in an aura, or seeing a pattern of light, with no pain at all.
If it seems very obvious why the headache started, such as waking up with clogged sinuses and a headache to go along with it, over-the-counter medications are the front-line defense. But there are other situations that require more than a few Tylenol.
When a Headache is a Warning
Though most headaches are little more than annoyances that will go away with proper rest, some headaches are much more than that.
If you feel any of these symptoms, get to the doctor as quickly as you can. If you have an alert for elderly adults, use it! If you don’t have one yet, call 911 to get help.
· The headache comes on suddenly and with strong intensity.
· It’s the worst headache you’ve ever had or the worst pain you’ve ever felt.
· Your headache gets gradually worse over 24 hours despite attempts to relieve it.
· The headache is severe and centered behind one eye. Redness in that eye is even more cause for concern.
· You have nausea and vomiting, a stiff neck, and fever along with the headache.
· The headache hits suddenly after physical activity.
· The headache is so bad it makes it impossible to function in your day-to-day life.
· You have changes in vision, including blurred vision or seeing double.
· You suffer from memory loss or confusion during the headache.
· You feel very weak during and after the headache.
· You experience a loss of coordination and balance, or problems moving your arms or legs.
· Your speech is slurred or you have trouble finding words.
· The headache occurs in the aftermath of hitting your head. The pain might be immediate or could be delayed for a time, even for several days.
There are other symptoms that indicate you need medical attention. Go to the doctor if this is the first serious headache you’ve ever had, if the headaches keep coming back, or if they present along with other problems, such as weight loss or pain in your jaw.
Anyone who has a history of cancer or a weakened immune system should be proactive when it comes to headaches. Anything that seems unusual about a headache deserves a look, even if it’s only to ensure peace of mind.
Causes of Severe Headaches
When a headache gets that bad, getting help right away can make all the difference. That’s why it’s important to know about the more concerning issues a headache may be trying to alert you to.
· Stroke. Up to 60% of patients who have a stroke report a headache along with it. The headache might build gradually or come on with the speed of a thunderclap. About half of those headaches are debilitating. This is particularly true with a subarachnoid hemorrhage. This type of stroke can feel like the worst headache you have ever had in your life, and there might be no symptoms beyond that pain.
· Aneurysm. This occurs when a weakened blood vessel in the brain leaks blood into the surrounding tissue. An aneurysm can begin as a slow bleed with gradual pain or feel like a sudden spike of pain that renders you unable to function. In most cases, it hits very quickly and time becomes of the essence.
· Bleeding in or around the brain. When blood goes to places it normally isn’t in the brain tissue, it can lead to serious problems that often first show up as a headache. This is what you might expect after hitting your head, such as during a fall. Headaches are common among 90% of those who suffer a traumatic brain injury.
Other causes might be genetic conditions that affect the arteries and veins in the brain, clots in the veins leading away from the brain, issues with brain swelling or pressure buildup, and infections. Some more rare causes include altitude sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, and a tumor in the brain.
These are medical emergencies that require immediate assistance. If you even suspect you might be having a stroke, aneurysm, or bleeding on the brain, get help right away! If you have a button alert, now is the time to use it. The consequences of “waiting it out” could be deadly.
When to Mention Headaches to the Doctor
Everyone has an occasional headache from time to time. But if the headaches keep coming back and don’t seem to have a clear cause, it’s time to mention it to your doctor.
If you notice any of the following problems, don’t wait. Call your doctor’s office and get an appointment to get checked out.
· A headache that lasts for several days.
· You start getting headaches first thing in the morning.
· Headaches wake you up from sleep or make it tough to fall asleep.
· You have headaches that keep coming back even after trying medication.
· You are on blood thinners.
· You’ve recently started a new medication, diet, or exercise regimen.
If you have a history of headaches, always pay attention to any deviations from your norm. If your headaches change in intensity or pattern, talk to the doctor.
When you are suffering from headaches, you might not be thinking as clearly as you could be. That’s yet another excellent reason to choose a medical alarm that suits your lifestyle and needs.
A medical alert system with fall detection provides strong peace of mind that if something goes wrong and a fall occurs, the device itself can alert a 24/7 monitoring center for you. Protecting your health as you age is a decision that could literally save your life.
