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What Causes Severe Headache During Pregnancy?
Question: My 18 year old daughter just came to me and said that she had a headache on right side of her head and that the right side of her body felt numb. Especially her extremities. She said that her eye was twitching and she felt like she couldn't stop shaking. She is also 6 months pregnant.
Brief Answer:
Headache in 2nd or 3rd trimester needs evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
Mild headache can be safely treated with acetaminophen or paracetamol in pregnancy. Severe Headache in pregnancy especially in the 2nd and 3rd trimester needs to be taken seriously. It could be a sign of preeclampsia, which is marked by high blood pressure and vision changes. Liver and kidney functions would also need to be checked via blood work (liver and renal function tests). Urine needs to be checked for presence of proteinuria. If there is associated edema, shortness of breath or mental status changes then she should be transferred to an ER facility. Unilateral headache can occur in either migraine or sinusitis. The usual migraine medications are not safe in pregnancy and paracetamol 1g is the only safe alternative. For sinusitis , antibiotics can be prescribed along with nasal decongestants. Vision also needs to be checked as eye strain related to reading or watching a laptop screen can also need to headache. The tremors or shaking can be related to fever, low blood sugar or low blood pressure or electrolyte imbalance.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Let me know if you have any query
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
Headache in 2nd or 3rd trimester needs evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
Mild headache can be safely treated with acetaminophen or paracetamol in pregnancy. Severe Headache in pregnancy especially in the 2nd and 3rd trimester needs to be taken seriously. It could be a sign of preeclampsia, which is marked by high blood pressure and vision changes. Liver and kidney functions would also need to be checked via blood work (liver and renal function tests). Urine needs to be checked for presence of proteinuria. If there is associated edema, shortness of breath or mental status changes then she should be transferred to an ER facility. Unilateral headache can occur in either migraine or sinusitis. The usual migraine medications are not safe in pregnancy and paracetamol 1g is the only safe alternative. For sinusitis , antibiotics can be prescribed along with nasal decongestants. Vision also needs to be checked as eye strain related to reading or watching a laptop screen can also need to headache. The tremors or shaking can be related to fever, low blood sugar or low blood pressure or electrolyte imbalance.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Let me know if you have any query
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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