Headache includes many types of head and facial pain. It is the most common form of pain and a major reason people miss work or school. Most headaches are not a cause for concern but if you keep getting them, see your doctor to help find ways to reduce the impact on your life.
When to seek urgent medical care for headache |
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Sometimes a headache is a sign of a more serious problem. You should get a headache checked right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
Call Healthline 0800 611 116 if you are unsure what you should do. |
There are many types of headaches. These vary in their causes, how they feel, how severe they are, how long they last and how they respond to different treatments.
Type of headache | Description |
Tension headache |
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Migraine |
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Cluster headache |
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Sinus headache |
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Medication overuse headache |
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What causes headaches?
The cause of headache will usually depend on the type of headache. There are many different causes of headaches including:
- muscle tension
- an infection elsewhere in your body
- inflamed arteries (which cause migraine or cluster headaches)
- the toxic effects of alcohol or other substances.
Headaches can be triggered by stress, tiredness, dehydration, hunger, certain foods, constipation, eyestrain, noise or bright light.
When should I see my doctor about headaches?
Usually, headaches go away given time, rest and/or treatment with a pain relief medication. You should see your doctor if:
- your headaches remain frequent, persistent or worsen
- you get no relief from simple pain relievers
- you take simple pain relievers more than twice a week
- you were headache-free but now get them
- your headache is triggered by standing up, coughing, straining, physical exertion or sexual intercourse
- you are over 50 and start to get regular headaches or there is face or jaw pain.
If a friend or family member has any of the urgent symptoms listed in the box at the top of this page, seek immediate medical help.
Call Healthline 0800 611 116 if you are unsure what you should do.
When should I have an imaging test for headaches?
Not everyone with headaches needs to have an imaging test. In some cases, you may need a CT or MRI scan if:
- your doctor could not diagnose your headache based on your history and examination
- your doctor finds something abnormal in your examination
- you have unusual headaches or headaches caused by a more serious problem.
Your doctor will advise what is best for you. Read more about when you should have an imaging test for headaches Choosing Wisely, NZ
How can I describe my headaches?
- Where is the pain? Is it on one side or both, behind your eye(s), forehead.
- How severe are they? You can describe how severe your pain is using on a scale of 1 to 10. See ways to describe pain.
- What do they feel like? Is it vice-like, stabbing, throbbing, splitting.
- How long do they last? This could be minutes, hours or days.
- How often do they occur? Are they daily, monthly, only at certain times of the day, only on weekends or weekdays?
- When do they occur? Is it on waking, in the afternoon or at work?
- How do they start? Does the pain develop over hours or does it begin suddenly?
- When did you start getting headaches? Was it childhood, adolescence or middle age?
- What triggers them? This could be some foods, alcohol, caffeine, exertion, noise, bright light, hunger, stress, tiredness, weather.
- What else do you feel? This may include neck or shoulder tension, sinus pain, tender scalp, jaw pain, being sick (nausea or vomiting).
- Is your vision affected? For example do you have blind spots, strange lights or patterns?
- What treatment do you take?
- How effective was the treatment?
What can I do if I have a headache?
The treatment of your headache will depend on the cause and will vary depending on the specific type of headache. Here are a few general things you can do.
- drink a large glass of water
- take pain relief medication
- paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen are simple pain relievers (analgesics) that can ease occasional tension headaches
- if pain relief is taken soon enough, they can help stop migraine. Read more about migraine medications.
- rest in a dark, quiet room
- have someone give you a head, neck and shoulder massage
- relax in a warm bath
- if headaches or migraines are recurring, track with a headache diary to help you look for triggers or patterns. This can also be useful to show your doctor.
If you get headaches three or more times a month, your doctor may recommend preventive treatment.
What can I do to prevent headaches?
Lifestyle changes can help prevent headaches. Getting more exercise, avoiding known stresses or triggers, improving your sleep and diet can all help a lot.
- trigger avoidance
- if you know what causes your headaches (eg, alcohol, chocolate, cheese) it’s best to avoid these things if you can.
- dietary changes
- keep your blood-sugar levels even by eating small amounts of a balanced diet regularly
- you may find keeping a headache diary useful for identifying if certain foods trigger your headaches and need to be avoided.
- stress reduction
- try to make time in your day to do something you find relaxing – have a bath, go for a walk, laugh with friends.
- regular exercise
- activities such as swimming or vigorous walking can help reduce the frequency and severity of headaches.
Learn more
Headache Ministry of Health, NZ, 2012
Range of migraine and headache topics American Migraine Foundation
References
- Diagnosing and managing headache in adult in primary care BPAC, NZ, 2017
- Headache in primary care BPAC, NZ, 2007