| A thunderclap headache hits you like a bolt out of | | | | aneurysm. Another test that is done is a spinal tap. |
| nowhere. It comes very quickly and all of a sudden. It is | | | | This test takes spinal fluid and tests it for abnormalities |
| likely that you do not know that one is coming as it is | | | | in white blood count or proteins. |
| not as if you have had poor sleep or an injury. Within | | | | Your doctor is looking for numerous potentially |
| seconds, your pain will be extremely severe and | | | | dangerous brain issues. One of these issues is a tear |
| debilitating. Seeking relief from over the counter | | | | in the membrane around your brain and spinal cord. |
| medications is futile as they will not be strong and | | | | This may allow for the leakage of spinal fluid. Your |
| effective enough to stop the pain. | | | | doctor should also be looking for any potential bleeding |
| The headache itself can last approximately last a | | | | problems in your brain. This includes a ruptured blood |
| stretch of as many as 11 days in a state that is less | | | | vessel, a bulging vessel that is ready to burst, a blood |
| severe. A lot of times, this type of headache can be | | | | clot or a tear in an artery that leads to the brain. Any |
| the sign of a more serious problem. In fact, there are | | | | of these things are considered potentially dangerous. If |
| some researchers who believe that these headaches | | | | your tests confirm any of these things then you will |
| are a warning sign that a blood vessel is about to | | | | need to have immediate emergency surgery in order |
| burst inside of your head. It has been found that 50% | | | | to repair the bleeding. Luckily when these things are |
| of those who had bleeding in their brain had a | | | | caught early enough a skillful brain surgeon can correct |
| thunderclap headache first. | | | | the flaw. |
| Your doctor should conduct tests to make sure that | | | | Females over the age of 45 years old are more |
| there is no medical problem linked to your thunderclap | | | | prone to thunderclap headaches. Your doctor may |
| headache. The first test that they should do is a CT | | | | prescribe you some medications for these headaches. |
| scan. This computerized x-ray can see the various | | | | They are either in the form of nasal sprays or |
| sections of your brain. After this test is completed you | | | | injections. These treatments act instantly to relieve |
| should have an MRI done. This test uses radio waves | | | | your pain. |
| and a magnetic field in order to see the structure of | | | | Currently, more research is underway about |
| your brain. Depending upon what the doctor finds | | | | thunderclap headaches. Hopefully, more will be |
| when these tests are completed they may order | | | | revealed about the nature and cause of this form of |
| more testing. One such test is a cerebral angiogram. | | | | debilitating headache. |
| This test is done in order to look for a cerebral | | | | |