Headaches- What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You

Almost all of us might have experienced headaches at least at some point in our life. It can be painful, uncomfortable, and even debilitating, but most headaches are usually not a cause of concern. Though headaches rarely indicate the presence of severe disease, if you have a headache regularly, it is important to find the reason behind it. 

Headache Symptoms You May Need to Worry About

Seek urgent medical attention if you have these symptoms, indicating an underlying health issue.

• sudden, very intense headache  
• a stiff neck and high fever
• a fever higher than 102°F
• nausea and vomiting
• bleeding from the nose
• fainting, dizziness, or loss of balance
• pressure in head
• pain that worsens when you change position
• double or blurred vision 
• difficulty understanding speech
• droopiness and weakness on one side of the face or body
• slurred speech
• difficulty walking
• hearing difficulties
• muscle or joint pain
• seizures
• night sweats
• sudden weight loss
• swelling on the face or head

Causes of Serious Headaches

Headaches are usually the result of fever, dehydration, stress, muscle tension, nerve pain, caffeine withdrawal, migraine, drinking alcohol, or intake of certain foods. They may also occur due to toothache, hormonal changes, or as a side effect of medication.

However, headaches may be a symptom of the following health problems as well:

• high blood pressure
• heatstroke
• stroke
• head injury or concussion
• brain, spinal cord, or blood infection
• preeclampsia
• cancer or brain tumor
• brain aneurysm
• brain hemorrhage
• Capnocytophaga infection from an animal bite

TMJ Headaches

One another cause of your chronic headache can be a problem to your TMJ. Millions of Americans live with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) headaches without realizing it. However, most times, TMJ headaches are overlooked by physicians because their symptoms are often similar to other types of headaches. 

Find answers to the following questions to see if your headaches are connected to a TMJ disorder.

• Do you wake up suddenly with headaches?
• Does your jaw feel stiff, sore, or locked after you wake up?
• Do you frequently experience headaches?
• Does your jaw hurt when you eat?
• When you open your mouth, does your jaw click, pop, or lock?
• Is there any change in your teeth's bite?
• Do your teeth experience wear or chipping?
• When you chew, do you experience pain in front of your ears?

If you have answered a YES to most of these questions, you might be suffering from TMJ headaches, and you may need a diagnosis by your Covington Signature Dentistry dentist. 

Dr. Peter Yeh, DDS at Covington Signature Dentistry, helps patients suffering from TMJ problems. Call our dental office at (253) 638-9955.