Severe or unusual headache
Although this is not the case for all strokes, in some cases a headache can be the first symptom of a stroke.
A 2020 study of 550 adults from a trusted source found that 15% of respondents had headaches before an ischemic stroke. A sentinel headache is defined as a headache that occurs before the event, in this case 1 week before the stroke.
The study authors noted that these headaches were more severe or different from previous headaches.
Additionally, these headaches usually begin within 7 days of the stroke and continue until the symptoms of the stroke appear. Participants who had headaches before their stroke were found to be more likely to develop atrial fibrillation, a type of arrhythmia, than participants in a control group who did not have a stroke.
A guard’s headache is considered a symptom of an impending aneurysm. It’s important to take unusual or severe headaches seriously, as they may predict a more serious health event.
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