Doctor reveals how to tell if your migraines are the first sign of a deadly brain tumor

Headaches are one of the most common conditions among Britons, with around 10 million people suffering from severe attacks called migraines.

Most cases are harmless. But for some, they are the first sign of a fatal brain tumor.

Now a leading pediatrician has taken to social media to reveal the little-known signs that something sinister is at the root of severe headaches.

Dr. Meghan Martin has warned parents and patients to watch out for the combination of ‘red flag’ and ‘double red flag’.

First, the timing of the headache is important.

“If the headache is worst in the morning, that’s a red flag,” she told her 1.6 million Instagram followers, adding that it’s especially concerning if the headache happens every day.

Second, watch out for nausea and vomiting combined with headaches.

Dr. Martin said: ‘Nausea and vomiting are common with viral illnesses, but if it persists you need to think about whether there is something going on in their head that is increasing the pressure that is causing the symptoms.

“It’s a double warning if a child wakes up in the morning and has a headache accompanied by vomiting, and this has persisted for a few days or more.”

Brain tumor headaches are caused by a build-up of pressure in the brain that usually results from the tumor pressing on blood vessels and nerves, according to The Brain Tumor Charity.

Every year, approximately 12,000 people develop a brain tumor, including 500 children and young people.

In the clip, Dr. Martin said she diagnoses three children with the condition every year, out of the “hundreds” she sees struggling with headaches.

However, about three-quarters of all brain tumors are non-cancerous, meaning they do not spread to other parts of the body and are usually not fatal.

But for patients with malignant growths, the chance of surviving more than five years after diagnosis is only 12 percent.

Dr. Martin also mentioned some other warning signs of brain tumors.

Being more tired than usual is one thing, but it’s usually only a problem if it persists and is accompanied by other symptoms, she points out.

Another warning sign is problems with hearing, vision or speech.

According to Cancer Research UK, a brain tumor can cause blurred or double vision, abnormal eye movements or strabismus.

Dr. Martin said children can develop problems with coordination and strength.

For example, walking may become more difficult or a young child may have difficulty sitting upright.

She said: ‘Balance problems are another big red flag and it’s not the child who has been clumsy all their life.

“It’s the little boy who’s suddenly wobbly on his feet and looks like he’s drunkenly walking across the fence and really having trouble getting around.”

She goes on to list other symptoms such as personality changes, seizures, mental health changes and also facial weakness.

Any concerns should be addressed, with hospital doctors looking “a little deeper into the head” using a CT or MRI scan, she added.