But because HRT provides other benefits such as a reduction in heart disease risk, Saper does not generally recommend that women discontinue the treatment. Headaches also can be a symptom of certain types of strokes. Subdural hematomas, or bleeding in the brain, are another possibility. Another patient of Ross got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, fell and struck her head, but went back to sleep, since she was not in great pain. Three days later, she sought help for a severe headache.
Hypnic headache is another, more remote possibility.
These headaches are marked by painful attacks that occur at night, waking the person. Pain occurs on both sides of the head and may be accompanied by nausea. There are often one or two episodes per night, each lasting five to 60 minutes. A dose of lithium prevents further attacks, Saper has found. Brain tumor is a remote possibility.