What should you know about dull headache for days?

Pressure across the forehead or around the neck can fit a tension-type pattern, especially after poor sleep, prolonged screen use, stress, jaw clenching, or skipped meals. Thirst, dark urine, dizziness, heat exposure, or heavy sweating can point toward dehydration or heat exhaustion. A blocked or runny nose, facial pressure, and reduced smell may occur with allergic rhinitis, a common cold, or chronic sinusitis. Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, or recent exposure may accompany COVID-19 or another infection. Headache can also occur with dengue fever, so fever and marked body aches after mosquito exposure need medical advice. Generalised anxiety disorder may include recurrent tension and headache, but a headache should not automatically be attributed to anxiety.

Rest in a quiet, comfortably lit room, drink fluids, eat regular light meals, and take breaks from screens. If you have been in heat, move to a cool place and rehydrate gradually. Keep a record of timing, sleep, food, medicines, temperature, congestion, and triggers. Follow the label for any pain medicine and ask a pharmacist if you have liver or kidney disease, ulcers, pregnancy, or regular treatment. Frequent use can itself contribute to recurring headaches, so discuss a repeated need for medicine.

Book medical advice when a dull headache lasts for days, is new for you, or keeps returning. Seek emergency care for a sudden severe headache, weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, confusion, fainting, seizure, stiff neck with fever, repeated vomiting, vision loss, or a headache after head injury. Get prompt advice for pregnancy, immune suppression, or a high fever with severe body aches or rash.

Ask whether your symptoms fit tension, dehydration, sinus disease, or infection; whether examination or testing is needed; and which pain medicines and warning signs apply to you.