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What does a stroke feel like in your head?

premierneurologycenter.com - What Does a Stroke-Related Headache Feel Like?

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Everyone gets the occasional headache, and some people may have more frequent headaches than others. While the majority of headaches are not serious and will eventually resolve themselves, there are certain cases where a headache can be a symptom of something more serious, like a stroke. However, it can be hard to distinguish a benign headache from a stroke-related headache. In order to help you know the difference, here is more information about strokes, stroke-related headaches, and what a stroke-related headache feels like.

What is a stroke?

Before discussing stroke-related headaches, it is important to first establish a firm understanding of what happens during a stroke. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. There are two types of strokes, including: Ischemic stroke: when an artery that supplies blood to the brain becomes blocked and causes brain cell death Hemorrhagic stroke: when an artery in the brain bursts, causing bleeding in the brain When it comes to recognizing a stroke, the acronym FAST is used by the American Stroke Association. This acronym stands for the main symptoms associated with early signs of a stroke, such as:

F: facial drooping on one side of the face

A: arm weakness

S: slurred speech or speech difficulty

T: time to call emergency services

Stroke-Related Headaches

In addition to the classic stroke symptoms associated with the FAST acronym, around 7-65% of people undergoing a stroke will experience some form of a headache. People describe a stroke-related headache as a very severe headache that comes on within seconds or minutes. Oftentimes, the area affected by the headache is directly related to where the stroke occurs. For example, a blocked carotid artery can cause a headache on the forehead, while a blockage towards the back of the brain can cause a headache towards the back of the head. This ultimately means that there is not one headache location that signals a stroke, since they can occur anywhere on the head. In some cases, it may be hard to tell the difference between a migraine and a stroke-related headache. This is because both migraines and stroke-related headaches have some overlapping symptoms such as: disorientation, a general feeling of being unwell, changes in vision, and vertigo. The easiest way to differentiate between the two is to pay attention to sensations. A migraine headache produces sensations like auras, flashing lights, or tingling skin, while a stroke-related headache causes sensations to be lost, such as a loss of vision or feeling. Additionally, migraine headaches are caused by recognizable triggers and the pain is described as a throbbing that gets gradually worse, while strokes can happen at random and cause pain that is sudden and severe. A “mini stroke” can also cause a stroke-related headache. Mini strokes are more formally known as transient ischemic attacks characterized by a temporary interruption of blood flow. Unlike a stroke, with a TIA the brain tissue is only temporarily damaged and recovers once blood flow has been restored. Still, TIAs produce identical symptoms to a stroke, however the symptoms can last anywhere from only 5 minutes to 24 hours. Although the symptoms can be short-lived, a TIA should be treated like a stroke, since they are often a warning sign to a full-blown stroke. Seeking treatment early can prevent a stroke, as well as permanent brain damage.

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Why is my blood pressure still high on medication?

You're taking a diuretic and at least two other blood pressure medicines. But your blood pressure still isn't budging. This is called resistant hypertension. Simply put, it means that your high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) is hard to treat and may also have an underlying (secondary) cause.

heart.org - Resistant Hypertension - High Blood Pressure That's Hard to Treat

What happens when you hit a high blood pressure plateau?

Possible causes of resistant hypertension

You’ve made lifestyle changes . You’re taking a diuretic and at least two other blood pressure medicines . But your blood pressure still isn’t budging. This is called resistant hypertension. Simply put, it means that your high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) is hard to treat and may also have an underlying (secondary) cause. Resistant hypertension may have one or more other underlying medical conditions. In addition to treating resistant hypertension with medications, doctors typically investigate secondary causes (contributing factors), such as:

Abnormalities in the hormones that control blood pressure.

The accumulation of artery-clogging plaque in blood vessels that nourish the kidneys, a condition called renal artery stenosis. Sleep problems, such as the breath-holding type of snoring known as obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity or heavy intake of alcohol or other substances that can interfere with blood pressure.

Monitoring and treatment of resistant hypertension

Reining in blood pressure levels begins with the basics, such as understanding your pressure patterns. Sometimes that means wearing a pager-sized automatic blood pressure recorder for 24 hours or checking pressure with an at-home monitor several times a day. Treatment also usually involves a change or addition of medications and investigation of secondary causes – along with key lifestyle changes, including:

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