What should you know about serious headache?

Head pain can occur with dehydration, heat exhaustion, a common cold, or COVID-19. Pressure around the nose may occur with allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis. Dengue fever can also include headache with fever and marked body aches. The pattern matters: onset, location, intensity, associated symptoms, recent travel, heat exposure, fluid intake, and medicines all help a clinician assess the cause. A headache symptom does not by itself identify a particular condition.

Stop strenuous activity, move to a quiet place, and sip fluids if you can swallow normally. Note when the pain began, how quickly it reached its peak, and whether fever, vomiting, visual change, weakness, numbness, confusion, neck stiffness, or a recent injury is present. Do not drive if you feel confused, faint, weak, or have vision problems. Seek advice before taking repeated pain medicine, especially if you are pregnant, have kidney or liver disease, take blood thinners, or the headache keeps returning.

Call emergency services or go to an emergency department for a sudden explosive headache, new weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, seizure, fainting, confusion, severe drowsiness, vision loss, a stiff neck with fever, or a headache after a significant head injury. Arrange same-day medical assessment for a new severe headache, persistent vomiting, high fever, worsening pain, or headache with a spreading rash. Urgency is based on these warning signs, not on assuming the headache represents a specific disease.

What features of my headache need checking today? Could dehydration, heat exposure, infection, sinus symptoms, or a medicine be contributing? Which pain relievers are suitable for me, and how often may I use them? What changes should prompt emergency care?