Headaches
Headaches are one of the most common medical complaints worldwide, with many different causes ranging from tension and dehydration to migraine and high blood pressure. Most headaches are benign, but persistent, severe, or unusual headaches deserve proper assessment to identify the cause and provide effective treatment.
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This page provides general health information only. A sudden, severe "thunderclap" headache is a medical emergency — call 112 immediately.
Types of headache
Primary headaches (no underlying disease)
- Tension headache — the most common type; a dull, pressing pain on both sides of the head, often related to stress, poor posture, or eye strain
- Migraine — moderate to severe throbbing pain, typically one-sided, with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound; may be preceded by visual aura
- Cluster headache — severe, one-sided pain around the eye occurring in clusters, associated with red or watering eye and nasal congestion
- Medication overuse headache — chronic daily headache caused by frequent use of pain relief; very common and often unrecognised
Secondary headaches (symptom of another condition)
- High blood pressure — can cause headaches, particularly in the morning
- Sinusitis — facial pressure and headache associated with nasal congestion
- Cervicogenic headache — pain referred from the neck
- Caffeine withdrawal, dehydration, and sleep deprivation
Red flag symptoms — seek emergency care
Call 112 immediately if your headache is sudden and extremely severe ("the worst of your life"), is accompanied by fever, stiff neck, rash, confusion, or vision changes, follows a head injury, or is associated with weakness, facial drooping, or speech difficulty. These may indicate a medical emergency.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if headaches are frequent, severe, worsening over time, or affecting your daily life. Also seek assessment if the pattern of your headaches has changed, if you are taking pain relief more than 10–15 days per month, or if headaches are associated with other neurological symptoms.
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Treatment options
- Tension headache — paracetamol or NSAIDs for acute relief; stress management, improved posture, and physiotherapy for prevention
- Migraine — triptans (e.g. sumatriptan) for acute attacks; preventative medication (topiramate, amitriptyline, propranolol, or CGRP antagonists) for frequent migraines
- Cluster headache — high-flow oxygen and triptans for acute attacks; verapamil for prevention
- Medication overuse headache — withdrawal from overused analgesics under medical supervision
- Lifestyle factors — regular sleep, hydration, managing screen time, and stress reduction
How eMedClinic can help
Our doctors provide thorough headache assessments, identify the type and cause, prescribe appropriate acute and preventative treatment, and refer for further investigation where indicated. We are particularly well placed to help those who have moved abroad and need continuity of their headache or migraine management.
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