Thunderclap Headaches: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

You get out of the pool after an intense swim session. You feel alive but exhausted. It’s all good, you tell yourself. It’s good to feel the strain.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, it grips you like an invisible hand that has materialised out of nowhere, clutching your brain.

You scream in repulsion.

What is this?

You can feel people surrounding you. Grabbing you. Everyone looks perplexed. You hear the alarm in their raised voices.

What’s wrong?

You crumble on the floor. Your vision is blurry as if a haze has descended upon you.

Almost as if on cue, you hear a loud thunderclap outside.

Cinema, you think to yourself.

This is what people on the internet call a Thunderclap Headache. But what does this semi-medical-sounding headache mean? In this blog, we are going to dive deeper into our headache and learn everything about it! Let’s talk about it, shall we?

Imagine a shattering clap of thunder. No warning. No growls. Just an imploding booming sound that you can feel in your bones.

It immediately demands your attention like a sharp crash of thunder.

A thunderclap headache means a headache of the same proportions. It doesn’t fit in. It doesn’t build in intensity. It just comes out of nowhere. In fact, many people describe it as the worst headache of their lives.

Sometimes, these headaches have no clear cause and pass on their own. But other times, they can signal something far more serious, like bleeding in or around your brain. That’s why they’re treated as a medical emergency until proven otherwise.

The good news? They’re rare. Fewer than 50 in every 100,000 adults experience a thunderclap headache each year. So, definitely not common.

So, it’s not exactly a Bumble ad that just pops up on your phone. But more like that rare odd Bumble date that can catch you off guard. It might expose a deep underlying issue that needs to be addressed. It might be harmless, but it could also be a red flag you don’t want to ignore.

The main and most important symptom of a thunderclap headache is sudden, excruciating pain in your head. The pain is at its most intense for a few minutes and then usually fades within the next few hours.

Let’s take a look at some of the other symptoms that may accompany the headache:

• Pain in and around your neck or back

• Numbness

• Nausea or vomiting

• Speech problems

• Changes in vision

• Seizures

• Confusion

• Fever

Sometimes, there is no apparent reason for an ensuing thunderclap headache. But oftentimes, a variety of life-threatening conditions could be the reason behind them:

• Subarachnoid haemorrhage (bleeding between the brain and membranes covering the brain) - This is the most common cause.

• A rupture of a blood vessel in the brain

• A tear in the lining of an artery that supplies blood to the brain

• Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome

• Leaking of cerebrospinal fluid — usually due to a tear of the covering around a nerve root in the spine

• Death of tissue or bleeding in the pituitary gland

• Haemorrhagic stroke

• Severe elevation in blood pressure (hypertensive crisis)

• Head injury

• Infections such as meningitis or encephalitis

• Ischemic stroke

In some cases, there is no obvious cause. But there are some common triggers that a thunderclap headache is associated with. Let’s take a look:

• Hard physical labour

• Thunderclap headache after orgasm is called an orgasmic headache

• A bowel movement that causes you to strain

• An injury

• Hitting warm or hot water too fast, such as when you first enter a shower or bath.

The first step in treating thunderclap headaches is to figure out what’s causing them. After a physical evaluation and getting to know more about your symptoms, your doctor can recommend a CT scan.

Since this kind of headache can be linked to something serious, your doctor will start with a physical exam and ask you a few questions about your symptoms.

From there, they’ll likely recommend a CT scan, which is usually the fastest way to spot any bleeding or issues in the brain. But if the CT scan doesn’t give clear answers, you may need to get additional tests done:

• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - This helps to create images of the structures of your brain.

• MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography) - This maps the blood flow in your brain.

• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) - This removes a small amount of fluid from your brain and spinal cord, which is then tested.

Once the cause is identified, the focus shifts to treatment and fast. The sooner you get checked, the better the chances of managing or even fully treating the underlying issue.

Now, before you panic, remember that not every thunderclap headache points to something life-threatening. Some turn out to be harmless one-time events. But because the serious causes can’t be ruled out right away, getting checked promptly is absolutely key.

But if you ever experience one, make sure to get properly checked out so you can rule out all causes! Quick action can make all the difference.

Sometimes, a thunderclap headache can come and go without leaving a trace. No underlying issue, no lasting harm. But other times, it can be a loud and urgent signal from your body that something serious is going on in your brain.

That’s why it’s so important not to take chances.

If you ever experience a thunderclap headache, don’t wait it out. Head straight to the emergency room. It’s always better to be safe, get checked, and rule out anything dangerous.

It’s not a headache that’s simply cured with a Chai Tea(CT) session with your bestie, but more like a CT scan with your doctor.

Q. How do you know if you have a thunderclap headache?

A. It strikes suddenly and reaches maximum intensity within 60 seconds — often described as the worst headache of your life. It may also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or loss of consciousness.

Q. How is the underlying problem that is causing thunderclap headaches diagnosed?

A. Doctors use brain imaging like a CT scan or MRI, and sometimes a lumbar puncture, to rule out serious conditions like bleeding, aneurysms, or infections.

Q. How can thunderclap headaches be prevented?

A. Prevention depends on treating the root cause (e.g., high blood pressure, aneurysm). Regular checkups and managing vascular health can reduce the risk.

Q. What is the difference between thunderclap headaches and ice-pick headaches?

A. Thunderclap headaches are sudden and severe and may signal a medical emergency. Ice-pick headaches are brief, stabbing pains that last seconds and are usually harmless.

Q. Do thunderclap headaches go away?

A. The pain often fades within hours, but the cause must be treated. Without medical attention, some causes can be life-threatening.