Headache
By the AllHealth UK editorial teamLast reviewed Next review due Compiled from published NHS and NICE guidance. Not reviewed by a clinician.
Key facts
A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Most headaches are not serious and can be treated at home, but some types may indicate an underlying condition that needs medical attention.
Most often affects:Adults 20–50Office workersStudentsPeople with high stress
What commonly causes headache
- Tension and stress
- Dehydration
- Eye strain from screens
- Poor posture
- Sinus congestion
- Lack of sleep
- Skipping meals or irregular eating
- Alcohol consumption (hangover)
- Taking too many painkillers — painkillers taken too often can themselves cause headaches
- Hormone changes — headaches around your period or during the menopause
What helps at home
- Drink plenty of water — not drinking enough fluids is one of the common causes the NHS lists.
- Rest in a quiet, dark room for 20–30 minutes
- Apply a cold or warm compress to your forehead or neck
- Take over-the-counter pain relief (paracetamol or ibuprofen)
- Reduce screen time and follow the 20-20-20 rule
- Gently massage your temples and neck muscles
When to get help
These three levels are different. Getting the level right is the single most useful thing this page can do for you.
Non-urgent advice: see a GP if
- The headache has lasted more than 3 days and painkillers are not helping
- It has been getting steadily worse over days or weeks
- You are getting headaches several times a month
- You are taking painkillers for headaches on more than 2 days a week
- The headaches started after beginning a new medicine
Urgent advice: ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if
- You have blurred or double vision, or you are being sick, alongside the headache
- The pain is far worse than any headache you have had before
- You are over 50 and have a new headache with tenderness in your scalp or jaw
Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if
- Sudden, worst-ever headache — could be a brain bleed
- Headache with paralysis, slurred speech, or drooping face
- Headache with seizures or loss of consciousness
- Headache with a very high temperature, a stiff neck, or bright lights bothering you
- Headache with a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it
- Headache with drowsiness or confusion, or loss of vision
- Headache and you have had a head injury in the last 3 months
What to do next
Not sure whether headache needs a doctor? These are your options, cheapest and fastest first.
Questions people ask about headache
Reducing the chance of it coming back
- Stay hydrated — drink 6–8 glasses of water daily
- Take regular screen breaks every 30 minutes
- Maintain good posture, especially at a desk
- Get 7–9 hours of quality sleep each night
- Manage stress with exercise, meditation, or breathing techniques
- Don't skip meals — eat at regular intervals
Conditions this can be part of
Listed alphabetically, not by likelihood — this page does not tell you which one you have.
- Cluster headache
- Migraine
- Sinusitis
- Tension headache
Sources and further reading
This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.
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