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What It Means
What a Headache Means
A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, face, or upper neck. The location and quality can vary: pain may feel like pressure, throbbing, tightness, or a sharp sensation, including a headache behind the eyes, on top of the head, or in the back of the head. A headache is a symptom rather than one single disease, and different types of headache have different causes.
PRIMARY TYPE
The headache itself is the main condition, as with tension-type headache or migraine. Migraine headache symptoms can include throbbing pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound.
SECONDARY TYPE
The pain results from another illness, injury, medicine, or health problem. Pain location alone cannot reliably distinguish a primary headache from a secondary headache.
Emergency Warning Signs
Emergency Warning Signs
GET EMERGENCY HELP
Some headaches need immediate medical attention
Seek emergency care for a sudden, extremely severe, or rapidly worsening headache; a headache after a head injury; or a headache with confusion, fainting, seizure, weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, vision loss, a stiff neck with fever, or repeated vomiting. A new severe headache during pregnancy or soon after delivery also needs urgent assessment. Headache and nausea may have many causes, but severe or unusual symptoms should not be ignored.
Possible Causes
Possible Causes of a Headache
Common headache causes include muscle tension, migraine, poor sleep, dehydration, skipped meals, stress, alcohol, eye strain, viral illness, and medication overuse. A new, persistent, or unusual headache can have other causes and may need medical evaluation, even when the pain is on one side or in a particular area.
- Muscle tension from stress, posture, or tight neck and shoulder muscles can cause pressure-like pain.
- Migraine can cause moderate to severe pain, often with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound.
- Sinus or other infections may cause head or facial pain along with congestion, fever, or feeling unwell.
- Dental problems or jaw clenching can cause pain in the face, temples, or head.
- Vision strain, prolonged screen use, or an uncorrected vision problem may contribute to headache.
- Hormonal changes, including those related to menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, can trigger headaches.
- Medicines, caffeine changes, alcohol, and frequent use of pain relievers can cause or worsen headaches.
- Less common but serious causes include bleeding, infection, or increased pressure in or around the brain and require prompt assessment.
Duration Triage Table
What Headache Duration May Mean
| Pattern | What it may suggest | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sudden or short-lived headache | It may follow tension, dehydration, missed food, or another temporary trigger, but a sudden, extremely severe headache can be an emergency. | Consider basic self-care if mild and familiar; seek emergency care for sudden severe pain or concerning symptoms. |
| Headache lasting days or recurring over weeks | It may reflect migraine, ongoing tension, infection, medicine effects, or another cause that needs review if it is new or changing. | Arrange medical advice if it persists, keeps returning, worsens, or interferes with normal activities. |
| Frequent or chronic headache | Repeated headaches may involve recurring migraine or tension and can be perpetuated by frequent use of acute medicines. | Keep a symptom record and discuss diagnosis, prevention, and treatment with a clinician. |
Duration is only one part of triage. Severity, how quickly the pain began, associated symptoms, frequency, and whether the pattern differs from your usual headache are also important.
Relief Tips
How to Relieve a Headache
- Drink fluids and eat regular meals to reduce dehydration and low blood sugar as possible triggers.
- Rest in a quiet, dim room if light or noise makes the headache worse.
- Try a cool or warm compress on the forehead, neck, or shoulders, depending on what feels helpful.
- Reduce screen time and take regular breaks to limit eye strain.
- Relax tense neck and shoulder muscles with gentle movement, stretching, or breathing exercises.
- Track the timing, foods, sleep, stress, medicines, and other possible triggers of each headache.
When to See a Doctor
When to See a Doctor for a Headache
- Arrange medical care for a first headache, a new type of headache, or pain that is increasing in frequency or severity.
- Seek advice when headaches interfere with work, school, sleep, exercise, or daily activities.
- Discuss recurring headaches with nausea or light sensitivity with a clinician, especially if they are becoming more frequent.
- Ask for medical advice if headaches began after starting or changing a medicine.
- Arrange evaluation for headaches in someone with cancer, immune suppression, or another significant health condition.
A clinician may ask about timing, triggers, location, associated symptoms, medicines, and family history. They may perform a neurologic examination and order tests when the symptoms or examination indicate that testing is needed.
Complications
Possible Complications of Headaches
Repeated or severe headaches can disrupt sleep, work, school, concentration, exercise, and mood. They may also lead someone to withdraw from normal activities or avoid situations that seem to trigger pain.
Diseases & Conditions
1 topic
Headache
Chronic Pain
