Then your headache can be dangerous

Headaches affect a majority of the population at some point. It is perhaps the most common reason for visiting a pharmacy, says chief pharmacist Annika Svedberg. In Nyhetsmorgon, she explains the difference between different types of headache and also gives you an idea of ​​when you should seek urgent care.

Tension headaches and migraines account for ninety percent of all headaches and many can be alleviated with over-the-counter tablets. To be able to help in the best way, the pharmacist must find out which headache the customer is suffering from.

– Then we can also guide you on what to use but also if there is something where you should seek help from a doctor, says Annika Svedberg.

Tension headache or migraine?

Fifteen percent of Sweden’s population suffers from migraines. It is characterized by an intense and pulsating pain that is localized to one part of the head, right or left. It is also common to become sensitive to sound and light.

Tension headaches have slightly different types of symptoms. It usually affects the whole head and is often symmetrical. This type of headache is linked to us tensing the muscles.

Then you must go to the emergency room

Headaches are usually not dangerous, but there are certain types of symptoms you should be aware of.

– If you have an infection with a fever and at the same time have a headache and stiff neck, then you need to go in urgently. It could be meningitis, says Annika Svedberg.

Other symptoms to react to are if you get a sudden sharp pain in the head, like a gun shot. Especially if it is linked to numbness and other symptoms, then you should also go to the emergency room. If you suffer from a headache that you do not recognize after the age of 50 and have almost never had a headache before, then you must also act.

– Then it goes without saying that if you have a troublesome migraine or tension headache, you should also see a doctor and get a proper examination, says Annika Svedberg.