What causes headache?

A pressure-like ache around the forehead, temples, or back of the head often fits a tension headache, which can accompany stress, prolonged screen use, jaw clenching, or neck strain. A throbbing headache with nausea or sensitivity to light or sound may be migraine. A blocked or inflamed nose can occur with sinusitis or allergic rhinitis, while symptoms after travelling to a high place can occur with altitude sickness.

Headache may also follow a viral illness, fever, missed meals, too little fluid, alcohol, disrupted sleep, or caffeine withdrawal. Some medicines can cause headache as a side effect, and frequent use of pain-relieving medicines can make headaches recur. Headache on waking, especially with loud snoring or pauses in breathing during sleep, can be associated with obstructive sleep apnoea. Repeated attacks with severe pain around one eye, tearing, or a runny nose may fit cluster headache.

Drink water, eat regular meals, rest in a quiet space, and reduce bright screens while the pain settles. Keep a simple diary of timing, location, severity, sleep, food, drinks, periods, medicines, and accompanying symptoms; this can reveal triggers and help a clinician identify the headache pattern. Use pain medicine only as directed on its label or by a clinician, and do not repeatedly increase doses without advice.

Arrange a medical review if headaches keep returning, are changing pattern, interfere with work or sleep, or require frequent pain medicine. Assessment may include questions about vision, blood pressure, neurological symptoms, sleep, and medicines; scans are not needed for every headache.

Seek emergency help for a sudden, severe headache, or headache with weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, confusion, fainting, a seizure, a stiff neck with fever, repeated vomiting, or new vision loss. Get urgent assessment after a head injury, during pregnancy or soon after giving birth, or when a new headache occurs with very high blood pressure symptoms such as chest pain or breathlessness. Do not drive yourself if you have neurological symptoms or feel faint.

Ask: What headache pattern does my description suggest? Could my medicines, sleep, eyesight, blood pressure, or jaw and neck tension contribute? Which symptoms should prompt urgent help? How often can I use my recommended pain medicine, and what prevention options fit my health history?