Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
I Am A 34 Year Old Male. Yesterday, I Experienced
Question: I am a 34 year old male.
Yesterday, I experienced an intense pulsing, throbbing, headache on the right side of my head. It was unlike anything I had felt before (I do not get headaches often).
The headache began about 5-10 minutes after finishing a period of heavy exercise. It lasted less than 2 minutes. It felt as if the pulses were slowing down%E2%80%94in the beginning, maybe I felt a pulse every 4 seconds, then every 7 seconds, then every 10 seconds, etc., until it stopped.
I regularly exercise and have never experienced this before.
Today, I feel no pulsing. I dont feel a headache at all, in fact, or%E2%80%94if I do, it is so minor that I cannot tell if I%E2%80%99m imagining it.
I am concerned about a cerebral aneurysm. Does this presentation sound consistent with aneurism?
If it were an aneurysm, would I expect the headache to get worse over time (rather than disappear after two minutes)?
What other causes could I consider?
Yesterday, I experienced an intense pulsing, throbbing, headache on the right side of my head. It was unlike anything I had felt before (I do not get headaches often).
The headache began about 5-10 minutes after finishing a period of heavy exercise. It lasted less than 2 minutes. It felt as if the pulses were slowing down%E2%80%94in the beginning, maybe I felt a pulse every 4 seconds, then every 7 seconds, then every 10 seconds, etc., until it stopped.
I regularly exercise and have never experienced this before.
Today, I feel no pulsing. I dont feel a headache at all, in fact, or%E2%80%94if I do, it is so minor that I cannot tell if I%E2%80%99m imagining it.
I am concerned about a cerebral aneurysm. Does this presentation sound consistent with aneurism?
If it were an aneurysm, would I expect the headache to get worse over time (rather than disappear after two minutes)?
What other causes could I consider?
Brief Answer:
Further evaluation is necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor " service.
I have read your query and here is my advice.
If this was the worst headache of your life, exists a small possibility that it was caused by a minor bleeding in your head.
I say a small possibility since you have no symptoms and headaches regressed completely.
In my opinion, you should be evaluated by your Doctor and by imaging tests such as CT scan or MRI of the brain even to exclude this small possibility of bleeding.
Aneurysm may be one reason for such symptoms.
If the evaluation by your Doctor and by tests comes back negative, it was only a primary headache with no underlying causes.
Discuss with your Doctor for these issues.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Further evaluation is necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor " service.
I have read your query and here is my advice.
If this was the worst headache of your life, exists a small possibility that it was caused by a minor bleeding in your head.
I say a small possibility since you have no symptoms and headaches regressed completely.
In my opinion, you should be evaluated by your Doctor and by imaging tests such as CT scan or MRI of the brain even to exclude this small possibility of bleeding.
Aneurysm may be one reason for such symptoms.
If the evaluation by your Doctor and by tests comes back negative, it was only a primary headache with no underlying causes.
Discuss with your Doctor for these issues.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I have now had a head CT without contrast. The scan results were normal, and the hospital doctor indicated no evidence of bleeding or masses.
Does this reduce the likelihood of aneurysm as the cause of the headache, notwithstanding the fact that it was only on the one side of my head and had a throbbing quality?
Does this reduce the likelihood of aneurysm as the cause of the headache, notwithstanding the fact that it was only on the one side of my head and had a throbbing quality?
Brief Answer:
In such case aneurysm very unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Since the CT scan results were normal, an aneurysm or any other vascular malformation of the brain are very unlikely.
Throbbing headaches in one side without evidence of hemorrhage remain unknown in nature and are not linked to aneurysm.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask if you have further questions.
In such case aneurysm very unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Since the CT scan results were normal, an aneurysm or any other vascular malformation of the brain are very unlikely.
Throbbing headaches in one side without evidence of hemorrhage remain unknown in nature and are not linked to aneurysm.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask if you have further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
