Headaches

Headaches | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Brain, nerves and spinal cord Headaches Headaches Return to Symptoms Enter age Last Updated: Next Review Date: Review my answers Find your local services Search for a service near you by entering your postcode below. Please input your postcode in the following format: A12 1BC GP Practices Dental Services Pharmacies Opticians Postcode Search NHS inform has more information on this condition. Read more Previous Start guide Review my answers  You told us your credentials were: : You said: Based on the information you gave us, we made the following recommendation: Close Keep a copy View PDF Most headaches are not serious. In many cases, you can treat your headache at home. Headache self-help guide Complete our self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next. How you can help yourheadache yourself Do rest take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen drink plenty of fluids relax (if stress is the cause) take regular exercise When to get professional advice Your local pharmacy can provide: advice about headaches treatments to help relieve headaches Find your local pharmacy Speak to a GP if: treatments recommended by your pharmacist do not relieve your headache your headache is getting worse despite taking painkillers painful or frequent headachesaffect your daily activities or cause you to miss work Phone 111 if: your headache does not go away and gets worse over time your headache is triggeredsuddenly by coughing, laughing, sneezing,changing posture, orphysical effort You have a headache and: a sore scalp jaw pain while chewing you feel weak Phone 999 if: your headache occurs suddenly and is very severe it may feel like a blinding pain your headache occurs after a severe head injury You have an extremely painful headache and: slurred speech or memory loss a very high temperature, feel hot and shivery, and have a stiff neck or a rash drowsiness or confusion vision problems severe pain and redness in one of your eyes Tension headaches Tension headachesare the most common type of headache. Theyre what we think of as normal, everyday headaches.They feel like a constant ache that affects both sides of the head, as though a tight band is stretched around it. Normally, tension headaches are not severe enough to prevent you doing everyday activities. They usually last for 30 minutes to several hours,but can last for several days. What causes a tension headache? The exact cause is unclear, but tension headaches have been linked to things such as: stress poor posture skipping meals dehydration How to treat a tension headache You can usually treat tension headaches with painkillers suchas paracetamol and ibuprofen . Lifestyle changes may also help, for example: getting regular sleep reducing stress staying well hydrated Migraines Migraines are less common than tension headaches.Theyre usually felt as asevere, throbbing pain at the front or side of the head. Some people also have other symptoms, such as: nausea vomiting increased sensitivity to light or sound Migraines can stop you carrying out your normal daily activities.They usually last at least a couple of hours. Some people find they need to stay in bed for days at a time. How to treat migraines Most people cantreat their migraines with over-the-counter medication from the pharmacist. If your migraines are severe, you may need to be prescribed stronger medication by your GP. This may be able to relieve and preventyour migraines. Read further information about migraines Cluster headaches Cluster headaches are a rare type of headache. They occur in clusters for a month or two at a time around the same time of year. Cluster headaches are excruciatingly painful. They cause intense pain around one eye, and often occur with other symptoms, such as a: watering or red eye blocked or runny nose Pharmacy medications dont usually ease the symptoms of a cluster headache.Your GP can prescribe specific treatments to ease the pain and help prevent further attacks. Medication and painkiller headaches Some headaches are a side effect of taking a particular medication. Frequent headaches can also be caused by taking too many painkillers. This is known as a painkiller or medication-overuse headache. A medication-overuse headache will usually get better within a few weeks once you stop taking the painkillers that are causing it. But, pain may get worse for a few days before it starts to improve. Hormone headaches Headaches in women are often caused by hormones, and many women notice a link with their periods. The combined contraceptive pill ,the menopause and pregnancy are also potential triggers. You may be able to help reduce headaches associated with your menstrual cycle by: reducing your stress levels having a regular sleeping pattern making sure you do not miss meals Other causes of headaches Headaches can also have a number of other causes, including: drinking too much alcohol a head injury or concussion a cold or flu temporomandibular disorders problemsaffecting the chewing muscles and the joints between the lower jaw and the base of the skull sinusitis  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 Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 07 March 2024 How can we improve this page? Help us improve NHS inform Thank You Your feedback has been received Dont include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions. Email Address e.g. you@example.com Message Maximum of 500 characters Send feedback Add this page to\n            Info For Me Other health sites Brain and Spine Foundation: Headache The Migraine Trust National Migraine Centre Find your local pharmacy Enter a place or postcode NHS inform About NHS inform Editorial policy Contact us Webchat Give feedback about NHS inform Info for Me tool Terms and conditions Privacy and cookies policy Freedom of information (FOI) Accessibility Other languages and formats  2023 NHS 24  v1.1.1.17852