Most headaches are harmless.
Busy days, rushing around, missed meals, endless coffees, endless screen time, and maybe a cold that won’t quite leave.
These headaches are common, they pass, and paracetamol and rest are usually all you need. Occasionally, a headache is the body’s way of flagging something that shouldn’t wait. Knowing the difference matters.
When to manage it at home
You can usually look after a headache yourself, if it feels familiar, builds slowly, and eases with simple measures:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen, as directed on the packet.
- Rest, slow down, one moment at a time.
- Eat regular meals, don’t miss breakfast.
- Monitor your screen time, regular breaks are good for both the mind, and the eyes.
- Avoid alcohol.
Most headaches settle within a few hours. Some last a day or two, particularly alongside a cold or flu.
When to book an appointment
Some headaches deserve a proper chat with a doctor. Consult a doctor if:
- Your headache isn’t improving, or is getting worse, despite consistent self-care.
- You get headaches regularly.
- You need painkillers on more than 10 days a month. Taken that often, they can cause “rebound” headaches.
- Your usual headaches have changed in pattern, strength or frequency.
- It’s made worse by coughing, sneezing, bending, or exercise.
- It comes with vomiting, or changes in your vision.
- You’re over 50, and this is a new kind of headache.
- You have jaw pain when eating, or a sore, tender scalp.
- It’s worse when you lie down, or worse when you stand, and eases when you lie flat.
Jaw pain and scalp tenderness, particularly over the age of 50, can be a sign of temporal arteritis. It needs prompt treatment to protect your eyesight, so ask to be seen the same day.
When it can’t wait
Call 999 /112 or go to A&E if a headache comes with any of the following:
- It started suddenly and is extremely painful, reaching its worst within seconds.
- A seizure.
- Numbness or weakness in the face or body.
- Difficulty speaking, walking, balancing, or remembering.
- Drowsiness, or confusion.
- Loss of vision.
- A very high temperature, stiff neck, or sensitivity to light.
- A rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is pressed against it.
- A head injury in the last three months.
Don’t drive yourself. Ask someone to take you, or call an ambulance, and bring any medicines you have been taking recently.
Is it migraine?
Migraines are common, and often go undiagnosed. If you are suspecting you have one, ask yourself these three questions:
Has a headache stopped you doing normal things on at least one day in the past three months?
Do you feel sick during a headache?
Does light bother you?
If the answer is yes to two or three of these questions, it is likely that you have migraine, and effective treatment goes well beyond paracetamol.
Do I need a scan?
Usually not.
Most people with recurring headaches have normal scans, and a careful history and examination tell us far more. Where imaging is needed, MRI generally gives a clearer answer than CT.
Not every headache needs investigation. The skill lies in knowing which ones do.
Reassurance has value too
Sometimes the most useful outcome is simply knowing there’s nothing to worry about and having a plan for when headaches return.
If headaches are affecting your life, or something about yours doesn’t feel right, a consultation is a good place to start.
