What should you know about persistent frontal headache?

Pain across the forehead may accompany allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, or a common cold, especially with blocked or runny nose and facial pressure. COVID-19 can include headache with other viral symptoms. Dehydration and heat exhaustion may cause headache with thirst, weakness, dizziness, or heavy sweating. Stress and generalised anxiety disorder can also contribute to muscle tension and head pain. Location alone cannot identify the cause.

Rest in a cool, quiet place, drink fluids, and take breaks from screens if they worsen discomfort. Avoid excess heat and record sleep, meals, hydration, nasal symptoms, fever, and any medicine taken. Use pain relief only as directed on the label or by a clinician, particularly if you have other illnesses or take regular medicines.

Seek urgent help for a sudden severe headache, weakness or numbness, confusion, fainting, a stiff neck with fever, new vision loss, repeated vomiting, or headache after a head injury. Arrange medical review when pain persists, keeps returning, or comes with fever, facial swelling, breathing symptoms, or signs of dehydration or heat exhaustion.

Ask whether your symptoms fit sinus or allergy inflammation, a viral illness, dehydration, heat exposure, or tension, and whether examination or testing is needed. Bring a timeline showing onset, triggers, associated symptoms, and treatments tried.