Many people fear a brain tumour whenever they get a headache. Reassuringly, most headaches are primary headaches — they occur without any structural disease in the brain. Still, it is vital to recognise the red flags.
Common headache types
- Tension-type headache: the most common. A pressing, band-like pain across the head or forehead; worse with stress, poor sleep and long screen time.
- Migraine: throbbing one-sided pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound.
- Cluster headache: excruciating pain around one eye, with a red, watering eye; at about the same time daily for weeks.
- Medication-overuse headache: frequent painkillers paradoxically causing daily headache.
Did you know? Eyesight and sinuses are often blamed, but most recurrent headaches are actually migraine or tension-type headache.
Eight red flags — see a doctor without delay
- The worst headache of your life, sudden like a “thunderclap”
- Headache with fever, stiff neck or a rash
- Headache with a seizure, fainting or confusion
- Weakness, slurred speech or vision problems
- A new kind of headache starting after age 50
- Steadily worsening headache, especially on waking with vomiting
- Headache after a head injury
- New headache in someone with cancer, HIV or weak immunity
Daily habits that reduce headaches
- Enough regular sleep
- Regular meals and plenty of water
- Rest your eyes every 20 minutes during screen work
- Walk regularly and use breathing exercises to manage stress
- Avoid painkillers on more than 10 days a month
If headaches are frequent, disrupt your work or change in pattern, see a neurologist. Once the type is identified, treatment becomes much easier.