![thunderclap headache](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.ctfassets.net%2Fxxv4b9mbhlgd%2Fimg_9705%2F9a3144359cf577639cdd0a58a40e722b%2Fef28ca5e-3d8b-4ba3-a11d-e9a6db0ae6e0.jpeg&w=1600&q=75)
What is a thunderclap headache and what does it feel like?
Peer reviewed by Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGPAuthored by Amberley DavisOriginally published 14 Nov 2022
- DownloadDownload
- Share
Nine out of 10 headaches aren't caused by a serious underlying problem. However, if you have a thunderclap headache you should always see a doctor immediately. Thunderclap headaches are as dramatic as they sound, and their ferocity can be a sign that something is severely wrong.
In this article:
What is a thunderclap headache?
When you experience a headache, deciding whether it's worth a trip to the doctors can be a bit of a headache in itself. One of the most important indicators is how severe and incapacitating your headache is.
A thunderclap headache comes on very suddenly and is very painful. GP and mental health coach Dr Hana Patel explains why you should see a doctor if you think you have one:
"This may be a sign of a life-threatening headache, and this should be investigated - especially when the headache develops over a few minutes and in people with no previous history of having headaches." In these cases, you should call an emergency ambulance.
What causes thunderclap headaches?
For some people who have thunderclap headaches there's no obvious cause and the people who experience them are healthy. However, Dr Patel explains that in other cases they are caused by serious conditions involving bleeding in the brain. For this reason, they should be considered a medical emergency.
The most important1 of these conditions is a subarachnoid haemorrhage - an uncommon life-threatening form of stroke where bleeding occurs between the brain and its surrounding membrane.
The second most common2 dangerous cause of thunderclap headaches are reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes. In these rare group of conditions, the blood vessels in the brain suddenly tighten. Again, these should be seen as a medical emergency.
There are several other possible brain-related causes. These are all dangerous, but an early diagnosis may improve your chances of recovery.
Patient picks for Headache
![Featured article image](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.ctfassets.net%2Fxxv4b9mbhlgd%2Fimg_8077%2F2e063e04884b71075f450bdf3b66e676%2F4b62f2f1-99a8-498e-96ea-a7e517aa9396.jpg&w=1600&q=75)
Brain and nerves
What causes headaches?
My migraines, which fortunately occur only once a year, start with huge zigzag lines across my field of vision. Only once did a migraine occur in the middle of surgery. The only way I could see the computer screen was to close one eye and look up from a stooped position. Apart from the zigzags, I was fine. The waiting room was full, so I carried on. However, the 8-year-old boy next in found it immensely funny to find his GP seemingly doing an impersonation of Quasimodo. He decided to copy me for a while, so we stood there eye to eye, until his mother came in and the spell was broken. I tell this story simply to demonstrate that no one is immune to headaches, not even doctors.
by Dr Laurence Knott
![Featured article image](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Fdefault_image.png&w=1600&q=75)
Brain and nerves
Tension headache
Tension headache is the most common form of headache. Painkillers, taken only when needed for the pain, work well in most cases. Attention to lifestyle factors, such as stress, posture and exercise, may help to prevent headaches. Medication to prevent headaches may help those who have frequent tension-type headaches.
by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP
Continue reading below
What does a thunderclap headache feel like?
This is a sudden and severe headache that lives up to its name, striking like a clap of thunder in your head or neck. People often say it feels like they have been suddenly punched in the back of the head. This can happen after certain triggers - such as sexual activity - or have no trigger at all.
The hallmarks of thunderclap headaches
A very painful headache that can feel like the worst you've ever had.
The pain striking suddenly and escalating quickly.
The pain peaking within 30 to 60 seconds.
Thunderclap headaches may or may not also be accompanied by other warning signs, including:
The pain extending down to your neck.
Muddled thinking.
Slurred speech like you are drunk.
Difficulty walking in a straight line.
Having limb weakness.
Feeling like the room is spinning.
How long does a thunderclap headache last?
Thunderclap headaches tend to reach their most painful point within 30 to 60 seconds of starting3, but this doesn't mean they're short-lived. It's common for these headaches to take around an hour to disappear after peaking, and in some cases they can last for many hours or even for a week or more.
The importance of seeing a doctor
If your headache is the worst you have ever had - very severe and sudden - call for an ambulance immediately. At the hospital, they may run tests such as a computed tomography (CT) scan of your brain, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan, or a spinal tap - also called a lumbar puncture.
The sooner you have a diagnosis, the better chances you have of recovery. Treatment will depend on the cause of your thunderclap headache, if one is identified.
Visiting the doctor to find or to rule out a serious health problem is a scary prospect, but try not to self-diagnose, and above all, don't delay seeking medical advice.
An early diagnosis could save your life. It may also allow your doctor to rule out anything serious and put your mind at rest - getting medical attention is the only way to know for sure.
Continue reading below
Further reading
Continue reading below
Article history
The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
14 Nov 2022 | Originally published
Authored by:
Amberley DavisPeer reviewed by
Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGP
![symptom checker](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.ctfassets.net%2Fxxv4b9mbhlgd%2F1Dz6L58ffaUwLTR9rak3zv%2F36beafd6fb6750c8ff21fe2a4fc4d86a%2FMobile.png&w=1600&q=75)
Feeling unwell?
Assess your symptoms online for free