Headaches
Headaches
Overview
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Most headaches are not serious. In many cases, you can treat your headache at home.
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
Emergency Warning Signs
Phone 999 or go to A&E if you have a headache and:
- it began after a severe head injury
- it started suddenly and is very severe, feeling like a blinding pain
- you have new sudden symptoms of a stroke, like being unable to walk, weakness down one side of the face or body, or slurred speech
- you have symptoms of meningitis or sepsis, like a high fever with a stiff neck
- you are not responding normally, or are very drowsy and struggling to stay awake
- you have visual problems that are new and different to any you have experienced before, and are not related to a migraine
Contact your GP practice urgently if you have a headache and:
- you also feel more confused than usual
- the whole of your eye is red
- you notice changes in your vision
- it does not go away and gets worse over time
- it is triggered suddenly by coughing, laughing, sneezing, changing posture, or physical effort
- you have a sore scalp, or jaw pain while chewing, and you are over 50 years old
- it is new or getting worse, and you feel dizzy, are vomiting, or feel weak
- you are immunocompromised
- you are pregnant or have just given birth
- you have been in contact with carbon monoxide
- you have a blood clotting disorder such as haemophilia, or are taking blood thinning medicine like warfarin or apixaban
If your GP practice is closed, phone 111.
Contact your GP practice if you have:
- a headache that is getting worse despite treatment
- frequent or painful headaches that affect your daily activities or cause you to miss work
- a headache that wakes you up when you are sleeping
- a headache and you currently have, or have had, cancer
Headache self-help guide
Advice for adults with headaches.
Complete our self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.
Your local pharmacy can provide:
- advice about headache
- treatments to help relieve headache
Find your local pharmacy
How you can help your headache yourself
Do
- rest
- take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
- drink plenty of fluids
- relax, if stress is the cause
- take regular exercise
Tension type headache
Tension type headache is the most common type of headache. It is what we think of as a normal, everyday headache. It feels like a constant ache that affects both sides of the head, as though a tight band is stretched around it.
Normally, a tension type headache is not severe enough to stop you from doing everyday activities. It can last from 30 minutes to several days.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Phone 999 or go to A&E if you have a headache and:
- it began after a severe head injury
- it started suddenly and is very severe, like a blinding pain
- you have new sudden signs of a stroke, such as being unable to walk, weakness down one side of the face or body, or slurred speech
- you have signs of meningitis or sepsis, such as a high fever with a stiff neck
- you are not responding normally, or are very drowsy and struggling to stay awake
- you have visual problems that are new and different to any you have had before, and are not related to a migraine
Contact your GP practice urgently if you have a headache and:
- you also feel more confused than usual
- the whole of your eye is red
- you notice changes in your vision
- it does not go away and keeps getting worse over time
- it is triggered suddenly by coughing, laughing, sneezing, changing posture, or physical effort
- you also have a sore scalp, or jaw pain while chewing, and you are over 50 years old
- it is new or getting worse, and you feel dizzy, are vomiting, or feel weak
- you are immunocompromised
- you are pregnant or have just given birth
- you have been in contact with carbon monoxide
- you have a blood clotting disorder such as haemophilia, or are taking blood thinning medicine like warfarin or apixaban
If your GP practice is closed, phone 111.
Contact your GP practice if:
- your headache is getting worse despite treatment
- you get frequent or painful headaches that affect your daily activities or cause you to miss work
- a headache wakes you up while you are sleeping
- you have a headache and currently have, or have had, cancer
Headache self-help guide
This guide offers advice for adults with headaches. Complete the self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.
Your local pharmacy can offer:
- advice about headaches
- treatments to help relieve headache
Look for your local pharmacy for support.
How you can help your headache yourself
Do:
- rest
- take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
- drink plenty of fluids
- relax, if stress is the cause
- get regular exercise
Tension type headache
Tension type headache is the most common type of headache. It is what most people think of as a normal, everyday headache. It feels like a constant ache on both sides of the head, as though a tight band is stretched around it.
Usually, a tension type headache is not severe enough to stop you from carrying on with your everyday activities. It can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several days.
Causes
What causes tension type headache is not fully known, but it has been linked to things like:
- stress
- poor posture
- skipping meals
- dehydration
Headache can also come from a number of other causes, including:
- drinking too much alcohol
- a head injury or concussion
- a cold or flu
- temporomandibular disorders, which are problems affecting the chewing muscles and joints between the lower jaw and the base of the skull
- sinusitis, which is inflammation of the lining of the sinuses
- carbon monoxide poisoning
- sleep apnoea, a condition where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, interrupting normal breathing
Treatment
You can usually treat tension type headache with painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen. A few lifestyle changes can also help, for example:
- getting regular sleep
- reducing stress
- staying well hydrated
Migraine headache
Migraine headache is less common than tension type headache. It's usually felt as moderate to severe throbbing pain at the front or side of the head. Some people also have other symptoms, like:
- nausea
- vomiting
- increased sensitivity to light or sound
Migraine headache can stop you carrying out your normal daily activities. It usually lasts at least a couple of hours without treatment, and some people find they need to stay in bed for days at a time.
Read more about migraine
Cluster headache
Cluster headache is a rare type of headache. It occurs in clusters of daily short lasting headaches for a month or two around the same time of year. Cluster headache is very painful and affects only one side of the head. The pain is usually around the eye, and can be accompanied by restlessness or other symptoms like:
- watering or red eye
- blocked or runny nose
These symptoms happen on the same side of the head as the cluster pain.
Over the counter painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen do not usually ease the symptoms of cluster headache. Your doctor can prescribe treatments to ease the pain and help prevent further attacks.
Medication overuse headache
You might experience chronic daily headache if you take painkillers frequently. It usually happens in people who experience frequent tension type headache or migraine, and it may also happen if you take frequent painkillers for a different condition.
It's important to try to reduce the number of days that you take painkillers to avoid this complication. Normally, you should not take painkillers on more than 10 days every month.
Medication overuse headache usually gets better a few weeks after you stop taking the medication causing it, though the pain may get worse for a few days before it starts to improve.
Speak to your doctor if you're experiencing headache frequently and are taking painkillers on a regular basis.
Hormone headache
There's often a link between headache (migraine) and menstruation (periods). Contraception, menopause and pregnancy are also potential triggers.
If you're experiencing headache around your period, it does not mean that there's something wrong with your hormones. Speak to your doctor if you experience severe headache around your period or after starting hormonal treatment.