What to do when your head hurts

Most of us get headaches from time to time. Some are mild. Others cause throbbing pain. They can last for minutes or days. There are many different types of headaches. How you treat yours depends on which kind you have.

Headaches might arise because of another medical condition, such as swollen sinuses or head injury. In these cases, treating the underlying problem usually relieves headache pain as well. But most headaches—including tension headaches and migraines—aren’t caused by a separate illness.

A headache may feel like a pain inside your brain, but it’s not. Most headaches begin in the many nerves of the muscles and blood vessels that surround your head, neck, and face. These pain-sensing nerves can be set off by stress, muscle tension, enlarged blood vessels, and other triggers. Once activated, the nerves send messages to the brain, and it can feel like the pain is coming from deep within your head.

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. A person with a stress or tension headache may feel tightness or pressure like a band around the head. Intense work, missed meals, jaw clenching, or too little sleep can bring on tension headaches. The pain may spread to or from the neck. Cold compresses, relaxation techniques, and other tips may help relieve or prevent it.

Over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen can help reduce the pain. Lifestyle changes to relax and reduce stress might help, such as yoga, stretching, massage, and other tension relievers.

Migraines are the second-most common type of headache. They affect more than 1 in 10 people. Migraines tend to run in families and most often affect women. The pain can be severe, with pulsing and throbbing, and can last for several days. Migraine symptoms can also include blurry vision and nausea.

Migraines are complex and can be disabling. Certain smells, noises, or bright flashing lights can bring on a migraine. Other triggers include lack of sleep, certain foods, skipped meals, smoking, stress, or even an approaching thunderstorm. Keeping a headache diary can help to identify the specific causes of your migraines. Avoiding those triggers or using prescription medications could help prevent or lessen the severity of future migraines.

Be careful not to overuse headache medications. Overuse can cause “rebound” headaches, making headaches more frequent and painful. People with repeating headaches, such as migraines or tension headaches, are especially at risk. Experts advise not taking certain pain-relief medicines for headaches more than three times a week.

A less common but more severe type of headache comes on suddenly in “clusters” at the same time of day or night for weeks. Cluster headaches may strike one side of the head, often near one eye, with a sharp or burning pain. These headaches are more common in men and in smokers.

In rare cases, a headache may warn of a serious illness. Get medical help right away if you have a headache after a blow to your head, or if you have a headache along with fever, confusion, loss of consciousness, or pain in the eye or ear.

Know what kind of headache you have and, if you can’t manage it yourself, seek help. Remember there are preventive behavioral steps and medicines that can help manage headaches. But if the pain is severe or lasting, get medical care.

Prevent Headaches

Ease stress
Get enough quality sleep
Eat regularly scheduled, healthy meals
Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight
Ask your doctor if medications might help prevent returning headaches

Home and alternative remedies

Some people find that home remedies may be enough to relieve their headaches.

These include:

reducing caffeine intake
placing an ice pack on the achy part of the head or neck
relaxation techniques
gentle head massage or therapeutic massage
yoga

Alternative remedies may include:

aromatherapy involving the application and use of essential oils, including use of peppermint oil
acupuncture
relaxation training
stress coping skills
nutraceuticals or supplements such as B vitamins, tryptophan, and magnesium
biofeedback

These treatment options are not always helpful for everyone, and it is best to check with a doctor before using nutraceuticals or supplements.

When to contact a doctor

Sometimes a headache can have a serious underlying cause that needs medical treatment.

A person should see a medical professional about their headaches if:

the headache becomes so severe it affects everyday activities
a change occurs in the severity and frequency of tension headaches
a person is over 50 years of age and has no previous history of headaches or has a medical condition that might result in headaches
speech difficulty, vision loss or blurred vision, and movement problems accompany headaches
a headache develops suddenly and feels like the worst headache they have ever had
a person has a new type of headache and a history of cancer
a person becomes pregnant, as some medications may not be safe to use during pregnancy
medication may be causing side effects
a person needs medication to relieve pain more than 3 times a week, or previously effective medication no longer works
changes in level of consciousness, personality, thinking, behavior, or slurred speech
there is a fever or rash

In summary, a person should see a medical professional if headaches become more severe or result in vision disturbances or speech or movement difficulties.

Sources: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313020; Medically reviewed by Susan W. Lee, DO — Written by Mark Cowen and Sarah Charmley — Updated on April 16, 2025.