Thunderclap headaches - Symptoms and causes (2024)

FAQs

What is the common cause of thunderclap headache? ›

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the space that surrounds your brain). This is the most common cause. Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (sudden constriction of the vessels that supply blood to your brain). This is the second most common cause.

org*smic headache.

Some people experience the sudden onset of a severe head pain similar to that of a thunderclap headache just before or at the time of sexual org*sm. Although usually no underlying problem is found, it should prompt a call to your doctor to be sure.

Thunderclap headaches are uncommon, but they can warn of potentially life-threatening conditions — usually having to do with bleeding in and around the brain. Seek emergency medical attention for a thunderclap headache.

Treating primary thunderclap headache and RCVS

The extreme head pain usually settles in a few minutes, but moderate to severe headache can persist for several hours. Common pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) may help.

The Thunderclap Headache

The right decision might save your life. Doctors worry that blood leaking from a brain aneurysm causes these thunderclap headaches. Aneurysms have weak spots that gradually increase in size until they rupture. This may lead to severe brain damage or even death.

Ice pick headaches come and go quickly. They aren't as debilitating as chronic migraines or headaches. Still, you should see your healthcare provider if head pain lasts several days or interferes with your ability to work or complete daily activities.

In suspected cases of bacterial sinusitis, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are both effective in demonstrating the infection. Although most cases of sinusitis are fairly easy to diagnose, sphenoid sinusitis may be overlooked, and can present with progressive or thunderclap headache in adults.

Another cause of thunderclap-onset headache, pituitary apoplexy, can occur due to dehydration.

Cluster headaches are considered by many experts to be the most painful type of headache a person could ever experience, affecting an estimated one in 1,000 people in the United States.

What does an aneurysm headache feel like? ›

Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm usually begin with a sudden agonising headache. It's been likened to being hit on the head, resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before. Other symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm also tend to come on suddenly and may include: feeling or being sick.

The headache, which is sudden and reaches maximum intensity within 30 seconds, usually lasts up to several hours, but a lingering less severe headache may persist for weeks. Episodes of thunderclap headache may occur repeatedly over a 7–14 day period.

Causes and triggers

A thunderclap headache is most commonly a symptom of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, or bleeding in the brain, which can be life threatening if not treated quickly. The most common cause of this type of bleeding is a ruptured aneurysm in the brain.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a group of disorders characterized by severe headaches and cerebral vasoconstriction. The most common symptom of RCVS is a sudden, intense, thunderclap headache.

Summary. Ophthalmodynia periodica, also known as primary stabbing headache or "ice-pick headache," causes a single or series of sharp, jabbing pains around the eye. The headache occurs irregularly, ranging from rare to daily attacks, and the pain is typically short-lived, lasting a few seconds.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (10–25% of all cases of thunderclap headache)