Should I self-care, see a GP, or call 999?
Most headaches are not dangerous and settle with rest, water and simple painkillers. Skip self-care and call 999 if a headache starts suddenly and is extremely painful, or comes with a seizure, weakness, confusion, a non-fading rash, stiff neck and fever, or a recent head injury. See a GP if headaches keep returning.
This page is for deciding the next step, not for diagnosing a brain condition from a list. If you are looking after a child, use the child-specific warning signs below rather than waiting to see whether an adult painkiller “would have worked”.
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to take you, or call 999.
What are the common types of headache?
Tension-type headache is the everyday tight-band pain most people get. Migraine is a neurological attack with throbbing pain plus nausea or light sensitivity. Cluster headache is a rarer, severe pain around one eye that comes in bouts. Many headaches are triggered by a cold, stress, dehydration, skipped meals, alcohol, posture, eyesight strain, hormones or too many painkillers.
The NHS says headaches can last 30 minutes, several hours, or sometimes several days. Length on its own does not tell you whether it is serious.
| What you notice | More often this | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Tight band, both sides, linked to stress or screens | Tension-type headache | Rest, fluids, posture, pharmacist advice |
| Throbbing, one-sided, sick, light-sensitive, 4 hours to 3 days | Migraine | Treat early; GP if frequent or disabling |
| Severe pain around one eye, restless, watering eye | Cluster headache | See a GP — needs specific treatment |
| Headache with a cold, flu or sinus symptoms | Infection-related | Self-care unless warning signs appear |
| Headache most days and frequent painkiller use | Possible medication overuse | GP review, not more tablets |
| Sudden worst-ever pain, or headache plus neurological signs | Emergency until proven otherwise | 999 or A&E |
Keeping a headache diary — timing, food, sleep, hormones, what you took — helps you and a GP see the pattern. The Migraine Trust has diary advice that works for other headache types too.
How can I ease a headache at home?
Drink water, rest if you have a cold or flu, try to relax, and take paracetamol or ibuprofen if they are suitable for you. A pharmacist can check that. Do not skip meals, drink alcohol, or strain your eyes on a screen. Do not sleep far more than usual.
Other useful steps:
- stretch your neck and shoulders if the pain feels muscular
- get fresh air
- treat an obvious trigger (thirst, hunger, a stuffy room)
- stay at home and avoid contact with others if you also have a high temperature or are too unwell for normal activities
If a simple headache is not getting better or is getting worse after you have tried this, see a GP. Repeated headaches also deserve a GP conversation, even when each one still “feels like the usual”.
When is a headache a warning sign?
Call 999 for a sudden extremely painful headache, or a headache with a seizure, weakness, confusion, loss of vision, a non-fading rash, or fever with a stiff neck. Also call 999 after a recent head injury. Other worrying features need urgent GP care or NHS 111, not watchful waiting.
The NHS emergency list also includes numbness or weakness in the body or face, difficulty speaking, balancing, walking or remembering, drowsiness, and lights bothering you alongside a high temperature and stiff neck. Check a rash with a glass: if it does not fade when a glass is rolled over it, treat that as an emergency. The NHS includes a head injury within the last 3 months as a reason to call 999 if you now have a bad headache.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 if you or a child has a headache with vision or eye problems; a headache triggered or made worse by coughing, sneezing, bending or exercise; a headache with vomiting; a child’s headache that is getting worse or wakes them at night; or a headache with jaw pain when eating or a sore, tender scalp.
That last pair of symptoms matters in older adults because it can point to inflammation of the arteries in the head, which needs prompt treatment. Do not wait to “see if it is a migraine” if the scalp is tender or chewing hurts.
Meningitis warning signs overlap with some of the emergency list: high temperature, stiff neck, a rash that does not fade, confusion, and light hurting the eyes. If you are unsure, treat it as urgent.
Can painkillers make headaches worse?
Yes. Taking painkillers too often can cause medication-overuse headache, a vicious circle where the tablets start to generate the pain they were meant to treat. For migraine, the NHS says try not to take painkillers for more than 2 days a week. If you need tablets most days, see a GP rather than rotating brands.
Codeine-containing combinations are a particular trap because they are easy to take “just in case”. A pharmacist can help you choose a simple option and spot when you are using it too often.
Stopping overused painkillers should be planned with a GP, because headaches can flare before they improve. That short-term worsening is a reason for support, not a reason to go back to daily tablets without a plan.
What everyday things trigger headaches?
The NHS lists colds and flu, stress, too much alcohol, bad posture, eyesight problems, irregular meals, dehydration, too many painkillers, and hormone changes around periods or menopause. Several of these often stack on the same day — a late night, skipped lunch and a long screen session.
You do not need a rare diagnosis to explain a Friday-night headache after a week of poor sleep. You do need a GP if the pattern is new, progressive, or out of step with those everyday causes.
Glasses that are out of date, a poorly set-up desk, and clenching your jaw can all feed tension-type pain. They are worth fixing. They are not a reason to ignore emergency features.
When should a child with a headache get help?
Take a child’s headache seriously if it is getting worse, wakes them at night, comes with vomiting or eye problems, or is triggered by coughing, bending or exercise. Call 111 for a child under 5. Use 999 for emergency signs such as a non-fading rash, stiff neck or a seizure.
Children get ordinary headaches too, especially with viral illnesses. The aim is not to panic at every sore head. It is to move quickly when the story includes those extra features, or when the child is not themselves.
Check age limits on any painkiller with a pharmacist before giving it to a child.
What will a GP do for recurring headaches?
A GP will ask what the pain feels like, how often it comes, what else happens with it, what you take, and whether any warning features are present. They may discuss migraine, tension-type headache, medication overuse, sinus problems, or hormone-related pain. Most people do not need a brain scan for typical recurrent headaches.
They may suggest a diary, a change of painkiller strategy, physiotherapy for neck-related pain, or migraine prevention if attacks are frequent. If examination or history is concerning, they will arrange urgent assessment.
NICE guidance on headaches in over-12s is the framework many NHS clinicians use. Your job is to describe the headache honestly, including how many days you take painkillers. That single fact often changes the plan more than another over-the-counter product.
What should I not do when I have a headache?
Do not drive yourself to A&E. Do not take painkillers on most days of the week. Do not ignore a headache that feels different from your usual one. Do not skip meals or use extra sleep as your only treatment. A brain scan is not the default next step for typical recurrent headaches.
Self-care is the right first move for an ordinary tension-type headache. It is the wrong move if warning signs are present, if a child is not themselves, or if you are using tablets so often that the medicine may be feeding the pain.
If you are unsure, NHS 111 can help you choose between home care, a GP and emergency services. That is a better use of ten minutes than another unplanned dose.
Bring a list of what you have already tried to any appointment. Include how many days a week you take painkillers, whether you also feel sick or sensitive to light, and whether anything neurological has happened — even briefly. Those details decide the pathway.
Common questions about headache
- What is the most common cause of headaches?
- The most common type is a tension-type headache, which feels like pressure or a tight band around the head. It is usually linked to everyday factors such as stress, tiredness, dehydration or poor posture, and is not a sign of anything serious.
- When should I worry about a headache?
- Seek urgent help for a sudden, severe headache unlike any before, or a headache with fever and a stiff neck, confusion, weakness, vision changes or a rash that does not fade under a glass. Also see a GP if headaches are frequent or worsening, and get urgent advice for jaw pain when eating or a tender scalp.
- Can painkillers cause headaches?
- Yes. Taking painkillers for headaches too often can lead to medication-overuse headaches. For migraine, the NHS advises trying not to take painkillers on more than 2 days a week. If you are reaching for painkillers regularly, see a GP for a better long-term plan.
- How can I prevent headaches?
- Staying hydrated, eating regularly, getting enough sleep (but not far more than usual), managing stress, taking breaks from screens and limiting alcohol can all help reduce common headaches. A diary helps you spot your own pattern.
- How long do headaches last?
- The NHS says headaches can last 30 minutes, several hours, or sometimes several days. Duration alone does not tell you if it is serious. A sudden, extremely painful headache still needs emergency care even if it has only just started.
- Should I sleep off a headache?
- Rest can help, especially with a cold or flu, but the NHS advises against sleeping more than you usually would, because extra sleep can make a headache worse. Do not skip meals even if you do not feel like eating.
- When should a child with a headache see a doctor?
- Get urgent GP or NHS 111 advice if a child has a headache with vision or eye problems, vomiting, a headache worse with coughing, sneezing, bending or exercise, or a headache that is getting worse or wakes them at night. Call 999 for the emergency signs listed in this article. Call 111 for a child under 5 if you need advice.
- Do I need a brain scan for headaches?
- Most people with typical tension-type headaches or known migraine do not need a scan. A GP will look for warning features first. Imaging is for when the story or examination raises concern, not a routine test for every recurrent headache.
- Can dehydration or skipped meals cause a headache?
- Yes. The NHS lists not drinking enough, not eating regular meals, stress, alcohol, poor posture, eyesight problems, colds and flu, periods, menopause, and taking too many painkillers among common causes. Fixing those is often more useful than another tablet.