Headache is pain in any region of the head. Headaches may occur on one or both sides of the head, be isolated to a certain location, radiate across the head from one point, or have a viselike quality.
A headache may appear as a sharp pain, a throbbing sensation or a dull ache. Headaches can develop gradually or suddenly, and may last from less than an hour to several days.
Your headache symptoms can help your doctor determine its cause and the appropriate treatment. Most headaches aren't the result of a serious illness, but some may result from a life-threatening condition requiring emergency care.
Headaches are generally classified by cause:
Primary headaches
A primary headache is caused by overactivity of or problems with pain-sensitive structures in your head. A primary headache isn't a symptom of an underlying disease.
Chemical activity in your brain, the nerves or blood vessels surrounding your skull, or the muscles of your head and neck (or some combination of these factors) can play a role in primary headaches. Some people may also carry genes that make them more likely to develop such headaches.
Seek emergency care
A headache can be a symptom of a serious condition, such as a stroke, meningitis or encephalitis.
Go to a hospital emergency room or call 911 or your local emergency number if you're experiencing the worst headache of your life, a sudden, severe headache or a headache accompanied by:
- Confusion or trouble understanding speech
- Fainting
- High fever, greater than 102 F to 104 F (39 C to 40 C)
- Numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of your body
- Stiff neck
- Trouble seeing
- Trouble speaking
- Trouble walking
- Nausea or vomiting (if not clearly related to the flu or a hangover)
Schedule a doctor's visit
See a doctor if you experience headaches that:
- Occur more often than usual
- Are more severe than usual
- Worsen or don't improve with appropriate use of over-the-counter drugs
- Keep you from working, sleeping or participating in normal activities
- Cause you distress, and you would like to find treatment options that enable you to control them better
Show References
- Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2016. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 29, 2016.
- Digre KB. Headaches and other head pain. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 2, 2016
- Secondary headaches. American Headache Society Committee for Headache Education. http://www.achenet.org/resources/secondary_headaches/. Accessed March 2, 2016.
- Wong ET, et al. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of brain tumors. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 2, 2016.
- NINDS meningitis and encephalitis information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/encephalitis_meningitis/encephalitis_meningitis.htm. Accessed March 3, 2016.
- NINDS stroke information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm. Accessed March 3, 2016.
- Cutrer FM. Primary cough headache. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 3, 2016.
- Garza I, et al. Overview of chronic daily headache. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 3, 2016.
- Friedman BW, et al. Headache emergencies: Diagnosis and management. Neurological Clinics. 2012;30:43.
- Headache hygiene tips. American Headache Society Committee for Headache Education. http://www.achenet.org/resources/trigger_avoidance_information /. Accessed March 8, 2016.
- Flu symptoms & severity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/symptoms.htm. Accessed March 8, 2016.
- Cutrer FM, et al. Cough, exercise, and sex headaches. Neurologic Clinics. 2014:32:433.
- Bajwa ZH, et al. Evaluation of headache in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 2, 2016.
- Evans RW, et al. Postconcussion syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 2, 2016.
- Green MW. Secondary headaches. In: Continuum Lifelong Learning Neurology. 2012;18:783.
- Simon RA. Allergic and asthmatic reactions to food additives. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 8, 2016.
- External compression headache. International Headache Society. http://ihs-classification.org/en/02_klassifikation/04_teil3/13.10.00_facialpain.html. Accessed March 8, 2016.
- Seifert T. Headache in sports. Current Pain and Headache Reports. 2014;18:448.
- The elusive hangover cure. British Columbia Drug and Poison Information Centre. http://dpic.org/article/professional/elusive-hangover-cure. Accessed March 8, 2016.
- Headache: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/detail_headache.htm#142883138. Accessed March 8, 2016.
- When to see a physician for your headache. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/when-to-see-a-physician-for-your-headache/. Accessed March 8, 2016.
- AskMayoExpert. COVID-19: Neurologic manifestations. Mayo Clinic; 2020.
- Mao L, et al. Neurologic manifestations of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Wuhan, China. JAMA Neurology. 2020; doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.1127.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/headache/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050800