Most headaches go away on their own and are not a sign of something more serious.
Headaches can last between 30 minutes and several hours.
Do
-
drink plenty of water
-
get plenty of rest if you have a cold or the flu
-
try to relax – stress can make headaches worse
-
take paracetamol or ibuprofen
Don’t
-
do not drink alcohol
-
do not skip meals (even if you might not feel like eating anything)
-
do not sleep more than you usually would – it can make the headache worse
-
do not strain your eyes for a long time – for example, by looking at a screen
See a GP if:
- your headache keeps coming back
- painkillers do not help and your headache gets worse
- you have a bad throbbing pain at the front or side of your head – it could be a migraine or, more rarely, a cluster headache
- you feel sick, vomit and find light or noise painful
Get advice from 111 now if:
You have a severe headache and:
- your jaw hurts when eating
- blurred or double vision
- your scalp feels sore
- you get other symptoms – for example, your arms or legs feel numb or weak
111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- you injured or hit your head badly – for example, from a fall or accident
- a headache came on suddenly and is extremely painful
You have an extremely painful headache and:
- sudden problems speaking or remembering things
- loss of vision
- you're feeling drowsy or confused
- you have a very high temperature, feel hot and shivery, and have a stiff neck or a rash
- the white part of your eye is red
The most common reasons are: