Most headaches go away on their own and are not a sign of something more serious.
They can last 30 minutes, several hours or sometimes several days.
Common causes of headache include:
- Having a cold or flu
- Stress
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Bad posture
- Eyesight problems
- Not eating regular meals
- Not drinking enough fluids (dehydration)
- Taking too many painkillers
- Having your period or during the menopause
You can ease headaches yourself by:
- Drinking plenty of water
- Getting plenty of rest if you have a cold or the flu
- Try to relax – stress can make headaches worse
- Take Paracetamol or Ibuprofen
- Try to stay home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities
A pharmacist will be able to advise and provide pain killers for headache without the need for a prescription.
You should not:
- Drink alcohol
- Skip meals, even when you do not feel like eating anything
- Do not sleep more than you usually would as this can make the headache worse
- Do not strain your eyes for a long time – for example by looking at the screen
You should arrange a routine GP appointment if:
- Your headache keeps coming back
- Painkillers do not help, and your headaches get worse
- You have a bad throbbing pain at the front or side of your head – it could be a migraine or cluster headache
- You feel sick, vomit and find light or noise painful
You should ring 111 or get an urgent GP appointment if:
You or your child has a severe headache and:
- Jaw pain when eating
- Blurred or double vision
- A sore scalp
- Other symptoms such as weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
Or if your child if under 12 and has any of the following:
- A headache that wakes them at night
- A headache when they wake in the morning
- A headache that gets progressively worse
- A headache triggered or made worse by coughing, sneezing or bending down
- A headache with vomiting
- A headache with a squint (where the eyes point in different directions) or an inability to look upwards
Calll 999 or go to A+E if you or your child:
- Has a head injury – for example from a fall or an accident
- Has a headache that came on really suddenly and is extremely painful
- You or your child has an extremely painful headache and:
- Sudden problems speaking or remembering things
- Loss of vision
- Are feeling drowsy or confused
- Has a very high temperature and symptoms of meningitis
- The white part of the eye is red
Also call 999 or go to A+E if your child is under 12 and has any of the following:
- A headache with vision problems, difficulty speaking, swallowing, balancing or walking
- A headache with drowsiness or a persistent lack of energy
- A headache that starts within 5 days of a head injury
DO NOT drive to A+E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines you take with you.
