1 of 8
Headaches are the most common condition that affects the nervous system, and almost everyone has one at some point in their lives. Most headaches—even very painful ones—won’t have long-lasting consequences. “They’re serious in that they’re severe and debilitating, but they aren’t life-threatening,” says Robert Coni, DO, a neurologist in Melbourne, Florida.
Certain headaches, however, can sometimes be concerning to neurologists (medical doctors who treat conditions of the nervous system). And symptoms that appear with a headache or a changing headache pattern could be a sign of a serious medical condition. Learn which headaches are not likely to indicate an underlying medical condition, and which might mean an emergency.
Sources: International Association for the Study ... + 15
- International Association for the Study of Pain. Headache. Accessed March 18, 2026.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Headache. Accessed March 11, 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bacterial Meningitis. September 9, 2025.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Meningitis. September 9, 2025.
- Mayo Clinic. Meningitis: Symptoms and Causes. October 17, 2024.
- University of Maryland Medical System. Encephalitis. Accessed March 18, 2026.
- Granerod J, Crowcroft NS. The epidemiology of acute encephalitis. Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2007 Aug-Oct;17(4-5):406-28.
- Cleveland Clinic. Encephalitis. December 18, 2023.
- MedlinePlus. Encephalitis. September 6, 2024.
- Caranci F, Briganti F, et al. Epidemiology and genetics of intracranial aneurysms. Eur J Radiol. 2013 Oct;82(10):1598-605.
- Brain Aneurysm Foundation. Warning Signs and Symptoms. Accessed March 18, 2026.
- Mayo Clinic. Brain Aneurysm: Symptoms and Causes. April 26, 2025.
- American Stroke Association. Ischemic Stroke (Clots). Accessed March 18, 2026.
- American Stroke Association. Stroke Symptoms. Accessed March 18, 2026.
- Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. Headaches After Traumatic Brain Injury. Accessed March 18, 2026.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). March 13, 2026.
