Sharp Pain in Head

Sharp or intense pain in the head can be a symptom of mild as well as serious medial conditions. Headaches can be of different types, like icepick headaches, migraine, etc. Sometimes, a headache is also experienced when coughing, bending over or having certain type of food. Let us take a look at the causes of severe headaches.

Causes of Sharp Pain in Head

The following are the prominent and major causes of severe headache.

Migraine
A migraine is a headache experienced on one side of the head, which can be mild to severe. Sometimes, the pain is so intense that the person is unable to perform even his daily activities. Apart from severe headaches, the person may also experience other symptoms like sensitivity to light or sound, nausea or vomiting, etc. Migraine is more commonly observed in women than in men. The duration of pain can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours.

Sinus Infections or Sinusitis
Severe pain in the head, behind the eyes or ears is mostly due to sinusitis. Among the various types of sinusitis, sphenoid sinusitis can cause intense headaches, specially behind the eyes. On the other hand, frontal and ethmoid sinusitis can cause severe pain in the head, behind the ears or eyes. Constant or severe headache when bending over is usually observed in people suffering from chronic sinusitis.

Meningitis
Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, i.e. tissues surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis is caused due to bacterial or viral infection, and can be fatal. Sharp pain in the entire head and a stiff neck are the most common symptoms of meningitis. Besides, other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, seizures or unconsciousness, loss of appetite, etc., are also observed. Sometimes, along with meningitis, other complications like gangrene and a quicker heart rate can also be observed.

Encephalitis
Encephalitis, a rare but fatal disease, is the inflammation of the brain caused by a virus. The most common symptom of this condition is excruciating pain in the head. Along with headaches, other symptoms observed are nausea, vomiting, seizures, convulsions, etc. Encephalitis can result in death due to respiratory arrest.

Brain Tumor
A sudden onset of severe and sharp head pain can be a symptom of brain tumor. As the tumor grows, the pain increases and becomes intolerable. Sudden sharp headaches without any history indicates the possibility of brain tumor. The other symptoms observed are seizures, convulsions, confusion or loss of mental alertness, etc. A traumatic brain injury due to any reason can also lead to severe pain in the head.

Apart from these major causes, hangover, withdrawal effects of certain drugs, coital cephalalgia, spinal or vascular headache can also cause a severe headache. Hormonal headaches caused due to changes in hormones are experienced on one side of the head. Headache on back of the head is caused due to stress, mental tension, depression or improper posture.

Prevention and Treatment

It is essential to take proper and quick medical help if you experience any kind of headache, with an unknown cause. If it is a sudden, intolerable pain, one must consult the doctor immediately and undertake tests to find the cause of it. Most of the causes of severe headaches can be treated with the help of prescription drugs or surgery. On the contrary, there is no cure for migraine. However, the symptoms can be reduced by following a proper diet, and staying away from migraine trigger factors. Brain injuries and trauma can be prevented by wearing helmets and seat belts while driving.

Lastly, we conclude by saying that sharp pain in head can be a symptom of any major disorder, which can also be fatal. On the other hand, if the cause is a mild one, you can get relief by taking pain killers or other medication. Therefore, taking proper medical help should not be avoided. Take care!