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A doctor has issued an urgent warning to anyone experiencing a particular kind of headache to seek emergency medical attention straight away. Dr Amir Khan, an NHS GP well-known for his social media posts and frequent TV appearances, was tackling the subject on the No Appointment Necessary podcast.

Alongside co-host Cherry Healey, he outlined what's referred to as a thunderclap headache. He explained that these strike without warning and bring excruciating pain – specifically concentrated at the rear of the skull.

Dr Khan stated: "A sudden bleed in the brain is a very different presentation. It's called a thunderclap headache. It feels like you've been hit in the back of your head by a cricket bat.

"It is so awful. If that happens to you, you must just go to A&E, call 999, get someone to drive you to A&E, because that could be a bleed. And that needs an urgent scan and sorting out ASAP.

"A thunderclap headache - I remember learning about it at medical school and the tutor went like this (claps hands). And he was like, 'It just comes on'."

Cherry responded: "So funny how we're taught as kids how to make cheese straws in home ec and we're taught how to play Three Blind Mice on the recorder, but we don't know about things like sepsis or how to do our taxes and if you feel like you've been hit on the head by a- go straight to A&E. I mean, I'm so glad I can play Three Blind Mice on the recorder, don't get me wrong."

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The NHS highlights that a thunderclap headache is the primary symptom of a brain aneurysm. This occurs when a blood vessel in your brain swells - and it can be lethal if it bursts, known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

Approximately 1 per cent of all headaches presenting at A&E are SAHs. Up to half of patients with SAH in the UK may initially receive an incorrect diagnosis.

"A brain aneurysm is a swelling in a blood vessel in your brain. If the aneurysm bursts it can cause a bleed on your brain, but this is rare," the website states. "Most brain aneurysms are small and do not cause symptoms. They're often discovered during a test for another condition."

If you have a larger aneurysm, you may get symptoms such as:

• a headache
• pain above or around your eye
• changes in your vision, such as double vision
• dizziness and balance problems
• numbness or weakness on 1 side of your face
• difficulty concentrating and speaking
• problems with your short-term memory

You are strongly advised to dial 999 if someone has an exceptionally painful headache that does not subside, or a weakness or droopiness on one side of their face. Individuals may also experience weakness or numbness in an arm or down one side of their body.

They may also have difficulty speaking or slur their words, and suffer from blurred vision.

If you are experiencing these symptoms, it's crucial that you do not drive yourself to A&E. If you have persistent headaches, pain around the eye, or another symptom listed above that does not subside, call 111 or request an urgent GP appointment.

Minor brain aneurysms typically don't require treatment as they rarely grow larger and pose minimal risk of rupturing. However, you may be invited back for monitoring scans.

Medical intervention becomes necessary if there's a danger of rupture, or if it has already ruptured.