View Full Version : Can a Headache lead to stroke?
Kateehrocker
Jan 4, 2012, 04:28 AM
I have a really bad headache at the front of my head and I'm feeling light headed and sort of tingly and numb. I heard a man on the radio say he was having headaches so he went to the doctors and they sent him to the hospital to remove a blood clot that could have caused a stroke.
Is it just a headache? Or stroke? Or am I panicking?
ScottGem
Jan 4, 2012, 04:44 AM
There is no way for us to tell. A headache is a symptom that could have many causes. But if you have a chronic headache you should have it checked out.
joypulv
Jan 4, 2012, 04:58 AM
There are many, many causes of headaches. Most of them do not lead to strokes. Can you smile, talk, and raise your arms up in the air and hold them there when you have a headache? Those are the 3 quick out in the field tests for a stroke.
Other than that there are muscle aches from something like neck or eye strain or teeth grinding, nerve pain from something like ear or tooth infection, and pain from constricted blood flow in the scalp/forehead (rare). Migraines are a severe type of headache with peculiar and distinctive symptoms and are related to foods and stress and unknown factors.
You can get a headache from all sorts of medical conditions unrelated to the head and neck of course. Being lightheaded could just mean dehydration, which has a very simple cure - drink water. Women might be having a hormone fluctuation (very pronounced part of the menstrual cycle, but it doesn't affect all women).
And yes, it could be a sign of impending stroke or any number of serious conditions. But because headaches are so very common, doctors expect you to try rest and quiet and some OTC relief like tylenol first.
Kateehrocker
Jan 4, 2012, 05:06 AM
Thank you both,
I did the tests and I passed,
Sorry to seem dramatic I just get very worked up easily. Thank you for your help, it put my mind at ease :)