Headache

Find the first group that matches. Each one is a MySymptom care level, from most to least urgent.

1. Call 911 now

   • A sudden, severe headache that peaks within a minute (a thunderclap headache)
   • Headache with face drooping, arm or leg weakness, slurred speech or sudden vision loss

2. Go to the ER now

   • Headache with fever and a stiff neck, confusion, or a rash that does not fade when pressed
   • Headache after a head injury with vomiting, drowsiness or confusion

3. Get seen today

   • A severe headache with vomiting
   • A headache that is much worse when you stand and eases when you lie down

4. Call your doctor today

   • Headaches that keep getting worse over days or weeks
   • A new kind of headache after age 50
   • Headaches that wake you from sleep

5. Book a visit

   • Headaches more than a few times a week
   • Headaches your usual pain reliever no longer helps

6. Care for it at home

   • A familiar tension headache or migraine that eases with rest, fluids and your usual plan

Headaches can present as steady pressure, a tight band around the head, sharp stabs, or a deep throb that pulses with your heartbeat. Some people feel them mainly in the temples, others behind the eyes, at the base of the skull, or across the entire scalp. Migraines often come with light and sound sensitivity, nausea, or visual disturbances called aura. Sinus-related headaches usually bring facial pressure that worsens when you bend forward.

Headaches are one of the most common reasons people search for health information online, and they affect almost everyone at some point. The good news is that the vast majority of headaches are not dangerous and can be traced back to everyday factors like stress, dehydration, screen use, or skipped meals. The challenge is that the word 'headache' covers a huge range of experiences, from a dull pressure across the forehead at the end of a long workday to a one-sided throbbing pain that forces you into a dark room.

Understanding which type of headache you tend to get is the first step toward both relief and prevention. Tension-type headaches, migraines, sinus headaches, and cluster headaches each have a different feel, different triggers, and respond to different strategies. Paying attention to when your headaches start, what you were doing beforehand, and how long they last gives you a personal pattern to work with, and gives a clinician useful information if you ever need to bring it up.

• Stress and muscle tension

  Long periods of mental focus, emotional stress, or holding the shoulders and neck tight all day can trigger tension-type headaches that feel like a steady band of pressure.

• Dehydration

  Even mild dehydration reduces blood volume and can cause a dull, all-over headache. People who drink a lot of caffeine often notice this when they skip their usual coffee or water intake.

• Screen time and eye strain

  Hours of close-up work without breaks can fatigue the small muscles around the eyes and the upper neck, producing a headache that builds across the day.

• Poor sleep

  Both too little sleep and irregular sleep schedules are well-known migraine triggers and can leave you with a dull morning headache.

• Skipped meals or low blood sugar

  Going too long without eating can drop blood sugar and bring on a headache, especially in people prone to migraines.

• Caffeine, alcohol, and certain foods

  Aged cheeses, processed meats, red wine, and abrupt caffeine changes are common dietary triggers in migraine-prone individuals.

• Sinus pressure or infection

  Inflammation in the sinus cavities can produce a heavy, pressure-like pain across the forehead, cheeks, and around the eyes.

These steps are for mild symptoms with none of the warning signs above. Ask a pharmacist before taking any medicine.

• Hydrate and rest

  Drink a large glass of water, lie down in a quiet, dim room, and give yourself 20 to 30 minutes of stillness. This alone resolves many tension headaches.

• Cold or warm compress

  A cold pack on the forehead can ease throbbing pain; a warm compress on the back of the neck can relax tight muscles behind a tension headache.

• Gentle neck and shoulder stretches

  Slow side-to-side neck rolls and shoulder shrugs help release the muscle tightness that often feeds tension headaches.

• Limit screens and bright light

  Step away from screens, dim the lights, and avoid loud noise, especially during a migraine, to reduce sensory input that worsens pain.

• Caffeine, used carefully

  A small amount of caffeine can help some headaches, but overuse or sudden withdrawal can make them worse. Keep your daily intake roughly consistent.

• Over-the-counter pain relievers

  Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen can help when used as directed. Avoid using them more than two or three days per week to prevent rebound headaches.