Experts have warned of the hidden dangers associated with 'extreme' headaches, after a trainee copper suffered a stroke minutes after complaining of head pain.
The vast majority of headaches are harmless and can be managed at home with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Common types of headaches include the tension-type headache and more complex migraines, which affect millions in the UK.
However, persistent or severe headaches may be a potential warning sign of an underlying health issue, such as meningitis or a stroke.
According to the NHS, a sudden and very severe headache can be a sign that you're having a stroke.
Private practice The Green Clinic says a certain type of headache known as a 'thunderclap headache' - an abrupt, explosive pain - can be a red-flag for a type of stroke caused by a bleed on the brain
The clinic goes on to say that sometimes a headache accompanies another type of stroke known as an ischaemic stroke, where the headache is often sudden and new, and often accompanied with neurological changes like one-sided face droop, arm weakness and speech difficulty.
Most headaches aren't strokes, the clinic continues, and a stroke-related headache is more likely to be sudden, severe, or clearly different from the norm, and also paired with neurological changes.
You should phone 999 immediately if you suspect you or someone else is having a stroke.
Dr Rupa Parmar, medical director and private GP at the Midland Health clinic, said: “It’s the speed at which these symptoms occur that’s a concern. The way to tell is that stroke symptoms happen very suddenly and without prior warning.
"If you feel you’re experiencing a stroke, call 999 immediately, even if the symptoms stop after a short time. It’s vitally important to know the signs of a stroke as early detection is crucial in ensuring the best chance of survival and recuperation.”
One 20-year-old trainee copper from Matlock, Derbyshire, echoes this advice to seek urgent medical advice if you experience any stroke symptoms.
Esther Littlewood was watching Channel 4's '24 Hours in Police Custody' on Sunday June 29th with her mum when she began complaining of a headache.
After taking some paracetamol, Esther decided to go upstairs for a nap - but when her partner returned from work he couldn't wake her.
Unbeknown to her loved ones, Esther had already had two seizures while unconscious upstairs in bed, and a third while her mum dialled 999.
Esther was rushed to Chesterfield Royal Hospital in Derbyshire where she was placed into a five-day coma and later learned she had suffered a stroke caused by a patent foramen ovale (PFO) - an opening in the heart that didn't close naturally after birth that allowed a blood clot to pass through the brain.
Luckily, Esther made a full recovery but is now warning others about the dangers of the condition that nearly killed her.
Esther, who lives in Matlock, Derbyshire, said: "I was quite active. I'd passed all the tests to get into the police and was due to start in August.
"I can't really remember the day it happened. My mum said we were downstairs watching '24 Hours in Police Custody' and said I went to the left side of my head near my ear and said 'that hurts'.
"I told her I had a really bad headache and took some paracetamol. Apparently I said I needed to go for a nap."
However, a couple of hours later Esther was rushed to hospital after suffering three seizures and placed into a coma while doctors determined the cause of her sudden decline in health.
An MRI scan showed Esther had suffered a stroke, which tests later found was caused by a small flap in her heart that had allowed a blood clot to pass through into her brain.
Esther said: "From having just a headache to being unconscious having seizures is crazy. I can't remember any of that.
"If you have a really bad headache that doesn't feel right, call 111. Look out for those symptoms. Check where the headache is.
"If you feel a pain in the side or back of the head, just get it checked. It needs to be more talked about. I want to spread awareness of this."
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