5 things to know about headaches and serious health conditions

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.