I Survived a Thunderclap Headache—Knowing These Symptoms Can Save Your Life

Imagine the worst headache of your life—but it is as fleeting and lightning fast as it is painful. You’d want answers immediately. These occurrences are called thunderclap headaches. Sometimes they are completely harmless, and sometimes, sadly, they turn deadly. I should know. I’m a health journalist who just happened to survive my own thunderclap headache experience. Now I’m here to tell you everything you need to know about this strange medical phenomenon. Understanding the risks and warning signs could save your life.

My thunderclap headache symptoms came on suddenly

I remember having a typical evening at home. I was chatting with my kids in the kitchen before we sat down to dinner. Then, suddenly, I felt something “explode,” for lack of a better word, behind my left eye. It was a pain unlike anything I’d ever experienced—the kind that made me clutch my face in my hands like I’d taken a baseball pitch to the head.

Had my contact lens torn and scratched my eyeball? Had my retina detached? There was no visible bleeding or swelling or blurred vision. And the searing pain left as quickly as it came. I didn’t have any signs of stroke or other medical distress. No changes with my balance or body numbness or trouble speaking.

I wasn’t the type of person who was prone to headaches. And what I’d experienced didn’t seem to fall under what I understood to be the headache umbrella. So I went about my night. I ultimately chalked the occurrence up to stress. Looking back, I understand how dangerous that decision was.

Why busy women delay medical care

I carefully monitored myself for the next couple of days. The intense pain was gone, but I still felt a dull headache and pressure above my left eye, like I’d strained a muscle. I knew I should get it checked out. But honestly, I wasn’t super eager to spend a day in an urgent care waiting room.

Throughout my career as a health writer, I’ve interviewed countless women who had to persist to get proper diagnoses. Many of them suffered from mysterious health conditions that doctors either missed or dismissed. (Learn how to fight back against medical gaslighting.)

What my doctor feared about my sudden headache

When I woke up on the fourth day with the same dull pain and pressure, I knew it was time to visit an urgent care clinic. The doctor told me “it’s probably nothing, but some people who present like this have an aneurysm.”

He went on to say any time someone can describe exactly where they were or what they were doing when instant pain struck, it indicated a possibly serious situation that warranted further testing. I was sent directly to the hospital emergency room, to rule out a potentially life-threatening condition.

How doctors diagnose a thunderclap headache

Here’s what happened next in the ER:

Scans will look for brain bleeds

I was given an IV drug cocktail to help me relax and control the pain, while hydrating my vessels to prep for imaging. First, I underwent a CT scan of my brain. Luckily, no active brain bleed or clot was found. But the tests didn’t end there. I also needed a more sensitive scan, called a CTA (computed tomography angiography), which uses a contrast dye to take a more detailed 3D picture of my head. This could show damage to smaller blood vessels and spot problems that a regular CT scan might miss. Thankfully, it didn’t reveal any brain bleeds or aneurysm ruptures either.

A spinal tap can reveal if there was a previous brain bleed

Next, I needed a lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap. I got a little teary hearing that. I hated knowing that one of my tests ran a risk of triggering another headache after the procedure. But the sweet doctor explained it was the best way to rule out problems like the remnants of a brain bleed from four days ago, or something else like meningitis. Thankfully, that test came back clear, too.

Sometimes thunderclap headaches remain a mystery

With the absence of any big warning signs, I was told my pain must have been a “thunderclap headache” and sent home. I may never know why it happened. Once I knew I was safe, I did what any health nut would do—I researched everything I could about thunderclap headaches. What I discovered was eye-opening, and I knew I had to share it.

What is a thunderclap headache?

This type of headache isn’t like a migraine—it is most likely a sign or symptom. The pain can last anywhere from just a few seconds to about five minutes. “Thunderclap headaches often are the key warning for life-threatening brain bleeds, such as ruptured brain aneurysms or subarachnoid hemorrhage,” says pain expert Jacob Teitelbaum, MD.

If this is the first time you’re experiencing this type of pain, “this is a ‘call 911’ situation. Immediate treatment can make the difference between life and death.” To underscore the seriousness, he adds, “aneurysms are more likely to rupture in females.” However, if you have been evaluated and the workup is negative, then repeat headaches of this type are not an emergency.

Two warning signs that mean you need emergency care right now:

• Sudden onset: The pain reaches maximum intensity within 60 seconds.
• Severe intensity: It feels like the worst headache of your entire life.

The two main types of thunderclap headaches

Thunderclap headaches usually take one of two forms.

• Potentially deadly thunderclap headache. This type is triggered by a serious health issue like an aneurysm or stroke. In this case, the headache isn’t the issue. It is a symptom of a bigger health crisis.
• Primary thunderclap headache. Other times, this pain can mysteriously occur on its own, as it did in my case. “If no cause of the thunderclap headache is found, then the doctor may give a diagnosis of ‘primary thunderclap headache,’” Dr. Teitelbaum explains. “This label is not very meaningful except to say that ‘we have checked you over, we do not know what caused the headache, but it is not dangerous.'”

Who’s most at risk for thunderclap headaches?

About 1 in 300 people will experience a thunderclap headache in their lifetime. And the chances increase with age. “Smoking, high blood pressure and certain connective tissue disorders increase one’s risk,” says J. David Prologo, MD, an interventional radiologist at Emory University. “Women have a higher incidence, as do minorities.”

Why you may be hearing about this health phenomenon more lately: “Our ability to detect and treat them has improved, which may result in increasing numbers of diagnoses,” says Dr. Prologo.

You’re not alone if this happens to you. Actress Sharon Stone experienced a thunderclap headache back in 2001 when she described feeling a “lightning bolt” sensation to the head and suffered a stroke.

And Bret Michaels of the rock band Poison experienced a thunderclap headache in 2010 when he felt a burst in the back of his head and experienced a brain hemorrhage, followed by a stroke. It was nearly fatal. “It felt like a pop. They call it a thunderclap…It’s like a migraine times 10,” he said.

Other important facts about thunderclap headaches

• Thunderclap headaches can also be caused by blood vessel spasms or reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), triggered by prescribed medications such as nasal decongestants or antidepressants, or illicit drug use. “These spasms can decrease over time by increasing magnesium intake,” Dr. Teitelbaum says.
• Thunderclap headaches can happen during sexual activity. Dr. Teitelbaum says, “When these headaches occur during orgasm, the medication indomethacin before intercourse can be especially helpful.”
• Supplementing with magnesium may help. Try taking magnesium threonate (2,000 mg daily) to relax the brain, suggests natural health expert Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD.

What to do if you experience thunderclap headache symptoms

If you ever experience sudden, severe head pain, please seek medical attention immediately—even if the pain goes away. Remember: You know your body best. Trust your instincts and never stop advocating for your health. It could save your life.

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This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 9:00 PM.