How we feel when waking up in the morning is often a good indicator of our health. For example, feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep could mean you are coming down with something.
And according to experts, waking up with a pain in your head could also mean that something is wrong. The Brain Tumour Charity warned that having a headache as soon as you wake up could be caused by a brain tumour.
“You may wake up with one [a headache]“ or the sensation may be “worse in the morning”, the charity said. However, it noted that “most” headaches are not caused by brain tumours and it is much more likely due to some less serious issue.
This said, headaches are “one of the most common symptoms of a brain tumour”, experts at the Brain Tumour Charity continued. It explained: “In fact, up to 60 percent of people living with a brain tumour will develop headaches at some point.
“The headaches are not caused directly by the tumour itself. This is because the brain has no pain receptors. They’re actually caused by a build-up of pressure on pain-sensitive blood vessels and nerves within the brain.
“The build-up of pressure can be due to the tumour pressing on these vessels or nerves. It could also be the tumour blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the brain.”
The charity shared some distinguishing features of headaches caused by a brain tumour, which are headaches that are usually:
- Worse in the morning (you may wake with one)
- Aggravated by straining, coughing, shouting or bending over
- Not managed by painkillers.
It added that headaches caused by brain tumours:
- Can be throbbing or a dull ache, depending on where they are in the brain
- Occur intermittently starting gradually, but fading over a few hours
- Tend to get worse over time
- Can resemble common migraine or tension-type headaches.
Other features of headaches have been identified as “red flags,” which may suggest a brain tumour. These include a change in previous headache pattern and if your headaches are associated with:
- Prolonged / repeated vomiting
- Any new muscle weakness / sensory symptoms (e.g. numbness or speech difficulties), or visual symptoms, especially on one side of the body
- A change in memory, personality, or thinking
- Seizures (fits) – this does not have to be a full convulsive seizure, but could be a twitching of the hand, arm or leg.
However, the charity said: “It is important to remember that all these symptoms can frequently occur in harmless headaches.”
Doctors do not generally worry if your headache is:
- Occasional
- Mild
- Doesn’t last long
- Has an identifiable cause, such as a hangover, lack of sleep, flu-like illness, sinus infection or if you have been fasting (not eating) or overusing medication.
The NHS lists symptoms of a brain tumour as:
- Headaches
- Seizures (fits)
- Persistently feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) and drowsiness
- Mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality
- progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
- Vision or speech problems.
If you experience any unexplained symptoms you should speak to your GP.