Recognize common headaches and signs of brain tumors

Sudden severe headache or pain at night accompanied by seizures, changes in vision, can be a warning sign of a brain tumor.

Dr. Nguyen Hoai Thu, Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine, said as above and added that headaches have many causes, one of which can originate from a brain tumor. According to statistics in the world , every year, about 5 out of 100,000 people are diagnosed with some type of brain tumor. Of these, 15% of patients suffer from migraines.

Headaches are caused by abnormalities in the skull that put pressure on the nerves and blood vessels. Usually, the tumor has grown quite large before signs of increased intracranial pressure appear. Therefore, when a headache occurs due to a primary brain tumor (the tumor in its original location), it means that the condition is quite serious.

Headache is rarely the first or only symptom of a primary brain tumor. Patients may also have other neurological symptoms such as seizures, vision changes, weakness on one side of the body, and slurred speech.

Headaches caused by brain tumors feel a lot like other headaches, especially migraines, according to Dr. Lee. There is no clear pattern of pain that distinguishes a headache caused by a brain tumor from a regular headache. Since a brain tumor takes up space in the skull, anything that increases pressure in the head, such as sneezing, laughing, or bending over to change position, can trigger the pain.

However, one distinguishing sign is that headaches caused by brain tumors tend to occur at night and may wake you up at night or early in the morning.

The duration of the headache can also be a factor. If you suddenly have a severe headache that you have never had before, or a headache accompanied by neck pain, vomiting, high fever, difficulty speaking, confusion, or numbness on one side of the body, these may be warning signs of an emergency - call an ambulance immediately. Or, if the headache lasts for several days and is not effective with regular painkillers, it is best to see a doctor. Your doctor may order some tests such as a CT scan or MRI to rule out other possible causes.

Benign brain tumors tend to grow slowly, are usually harmless to health, and can be completely cured or controlled throughout life. Malignant brain tumors, depending on the patient, the doctor will predict the severity of the disease and different treatment options.

Thuy Quynh

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