Learn / Understanding Migraine
Understanding Migraine
When a headache needs urgent care
Warning signs that mean you should seek emergency medical care right away.
2 min read · 1 research source · Based on the Mastering Migraine courses by Dr. Adam Harcourt
Most headaches in people with known migraine are migraine. But some headaches signal a different, serious problem. Seek emergency care (call 911) if you have:
- A sudden, explosive headache that reaches full strength within a minute (“worst headache of my life”)
- Headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, or a rash
- New weakness, numbness, drooping of the face, trouble speaking, or loss of vision that is different from your usual aura, or that does not fully go away
- Headache after a significant head injury
- A seizure or fainting with headache
- A new or very different headache if you are over 50, pregnant or recently gave birth, or have cancer or a weakened immune system
Contact your doctor soon if: your headache pattern changes significantly, headaches wake you from sleep, they are steadily worsening over weeks, or they get worse with coughing, straining or lying down.
When in doubt, get checked. The ICHD-3 classification makes clear that a headache should only be called migraine after other causes have been considered 1.
This page is general safety information, not a diagnosis. It is not a substitute for medical evaluation.
This article is educational and does not replace a personal evaluation. Talk with your clinician before making changes to medications, supplements or diet.
Research cited on this page
- Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society. The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3). Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1-211. Source · DOI
Mastering Migraine is an educational resource and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. Always talk with your own doctor before changing medications, starting supplements, or beginning a new treatment.
