Do you often deal with constant headaches? If so, be careful about popping too many painkillers. Doctors warn that taking them more than two days a week could actually make the pain worse.
Headaches are one of the most common health problems worldwide. In fact, studies show that fewer than 3 percent of people go through life without ever experiencing one. Neurologists say headaches are so frequent that they make up the majority of their daily cases. Many people also turn to their family doctors for treatment, showing just how widespread the issue is.
The good news is that in most cases, headaches are not linked to any life-threatening illness. Less than one percent of patients have a serious underlying brain condition.
Common Types of Headaches
Most people suffer either from tension headaches, caused by muscle strain, or migraines, which can affect one or both sides of the head. These are usually mild to moderate, but they can disrupt daily life for millions worldwide.
If headaches are frequent, doctors recommend checking your eyesight, making sure you don’t have neck strain, and even considering dental issues like jaw pain while chewing. These everyday problems are often overlooked.
When People Fear the Worst
One of the biggest worries is brain cancer. But experts say brain tumors rarely cause headaches on their own. Tumor-related headaches usually appear much later, once the cancer is advanced, and are often accompanied by other symptoms such as vision loss, speech difficulties, fainting, or weakness in the arms, legs, or face.
Another frightening condition is a brain hemorrhage, which occurs when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. This causes a sudden, extremely severe headache, often described as feeling like being struck hard on the skull. If such pain lasts several minutes, it’s a medical emergency and requires an immediate trip to the hospital.
Not all sudden headaches are dangerous, though. Brief stabbing pains lasting only seconds are known as “ice pick headaches” and are usually harmless.
Headaches Linked to Infections and Inflammation
Meningitis, also called “brain fever,” can cause severe headaches along with fever, stiff neck, skin rashes, or spots. This is a serious infection and needs urgent treatment to prevent brain damage.
Another risk, particularly for people over 60, is temporal arteritis, an inflammation of blood vessels in the temples. Symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, fever, night sweats, poor appetite, and sometimes shoulder pain. If untreated, it can lead to blindness or stroke, but early diagnosis through blood tests and medication can prevent complications.
Women, especially those who are overweight, pregnant, or taking birth control pills, are also at higher risk of headaches caused by blood clots or increased brain fluid pressure. These can often be detected through an eye exam.
When to Take Headaches Seriously
Seek medical help if your headaches come with any of these warning signs:
- Pain that only occurs while coughing or sneezing
- Headaches triggered by lying down or standing up
- A history of cancer
- Weakened immunity or long-term steroid use
Doctors also caution against overusing painkillers. Taking them more than 10–15 days a month can actually trigger a new kind of headache known as “medication overuse headache.” To avoid this, experts recommend not taking painkillers on more than two days per week. If you’ve been relying on them regularly for weeks, it’s time to see a doctor.
