Is my headache serious? 7 red-flag symptoms

Neurologists tell Lisa Salmon about the warning signs that mean your headache could have a serious underlying cause.

Headaches: learn to differentiate between a dull ache and something more problematic

Most people get a headache occasionally, and will normally grin and bear it, or pop a few painkillers and wait for it to ease. But what if your headache is more than a dull ache and the pain persists? 

While it’s easy to panic if your head really hurts and the pain won’t go, most headaches are still nothing to worry about, say doctors. But that doesn’t mean they are never a sign of something more concerning – you just need to know what to look for to spot the rare occasions when your head really does need examining.