Headaches

• Drink plenty of water.

• Get plenty of rest if you also have a cold or the flu.

• Try to relax – stress can make headaches worse.

• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen.

• Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you also have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities.

• 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.

• 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.
• You regularly get headaches before or during your period.

You or your child has a severe headache and:

• Jaw pain when eating.
• Blurred or double vision.
• A sore scalp.
• Other symptoms, such as numbness or weakness in the arms or legs.

Also get an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if your child is under 12 and has any 1 of the following:

• A headache that wakes them at night
• A headache when they wake up in the morning
• A headache that gets progressively worse
• A headache triggered or made worse by coughing, sneezing or bending down
• A headache with vomiting
• A headache with a squint (where the eyes point in different directions) or an inability to look upward

• Has a head injury – for example, from a fall or accident.
• Has a headache that came on suddenly and is extremely painful.

You or your child has an extremely painful headache and:

• Sudden problems speaking or remembering things.
• Loss of vision.
• Feel drowsy or confused.
• Has a very high temperature and symptoms of meningitis.
• The white part of the eye is red.

Also call 999 or go to A&E if your child is under 12 and has any 1 of the following:

• A headache with vision problems or difficulty speaking, swallowing, balancing or walking.
• A headache with drowsiness or a persistent lack of energy.
• A headache that starts within 5 days of a head injury.

Common causes of headaches include:

• Having a cold or flu.
• Stress.
• Drinking too much alcohol.
• Bad posture.
• Eyesight problems.
• Not eating regular meals.
• Not drinking enough fluids (dehydration).
• Taking too many painkillers.
• Having your period or during menopause (hormone headache).

Keeping a headache diary might help you work out what triggers your headaches.