SELF CARE FORUM FACT SHEET NO. 6 (version 1.0.1.)
Produced by the Self Care Forum (www.selfcareforum.org). Last revised on 4 Mar 14. Please contact Libby
Whittaker 020 7421 9318 or email libby.whittaker@selfcareforum.org with comments or suggestions.
Headache
This fact sheet helps you to know what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect to happen if you
develop an occasional headache. It also tells you when you should become concerned and
seek advice from a health professional.
Useful facts
Common types of headache The most common headache is tension-type
headache – the one we think of as ‘ordinary’ or ‘everyday’ headache. Tension
headache tends to be mild to moderately severe and affects both sides of the
head. It usually feels ‘pressing’ or ‘tightening’ and is not affected by routine daily
activities. Migraine is a moderate or severe throbbing headache affecting one or
both sides of the head and made worse by ordinary daily activities.
Less common causes of headache These include cluster headache (a severe or
very severe pain around and above the eye), headache from overusing pain
killers (affecting about one to two out of 100 people), inflamed blood vessels,
and raised pressure inside the head (for example from a bleed or tumour).
Headaches are common As many as 8 out of 10 people have occasional tensiontype
headache from time to time, and 1 or 2 out of 10 people suffer migraines.
Migraine triggers Migraines can have many triggers, such as certain foods,
stress, hunger, tiredness and can get worse during menstrual changes or when
taking the combined oral contraceptive pill.
What can I expect to happen?
Rarely serious Although headaches can severely affect your life, they’re rarely
serious or life-threatening. Most get better by themselves, often within 24 hours.
Tests You won’t usually need further tests, such as scans or blood tests.
What can I do myself to get better – now and in the future?
Headache diary Keep a headache diary and record how often you get
headaches, how long they last, and whether they are mild, moderate or severe.
This can be helpful to decide whether your headaches follow a particular pattern
and shows how they respond to treatment, which is useful when you need to
discuss them with a health professional. A useful online version for monitoring
migraine headache is available at http://www.migraineclinic.org.uk/wpcontent/
uploads/2012/01/NMC-monthly-diary.pdf).
Lifestyle Try to get plenty of rest and sleep, and use every opportunity to relax.
SELF CARE FORUM FACT SHEET NO. 6 (version 1.0.1.)
Produced by the Self Care Forum (www.selfcareforum.org). Last revised on 4 Mar 14. Please contact Libby
Whittaker 020 7421 9318 or email libby.whittaker@selfcareforum.org with comments or suggestions.
Diet and fluids Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of fluid (ideally water) a day. Avoid
alcohol and take regular meals.
Pain killers Various pain killers are available without prescription from your
pharmacist. Choosing a preparation often comes down to personal preferences
and needs to take into account other medical conditions that you may have,
other medicines that you may be taking, and the risk of potential side effects.
Special migraine medications are available for treating migraine attacks. Avoid
taking painkillers for headaches for more than 10 to 15 days per month.
Other treatments Acupuncture can help with migraine and tension type
headache. Riboflavin (available as a food supplement from health food shops)
may help reduce migraine frequency and intensity in some people. Manual
therapy may help if you also suffer from neck aches.
When should I seek medical help?
Seek medical advice if over the counter treatments don’t relieve your symptoms, or
if you find it difficult to get on with your daily activities or go to work. Also speak to a
health professional if you notice any of the following:
Frequency Your headaches become more and more frequent.
Additional symptoms You vomit for no apparent reason or have a high fever.
You develop a stiff neck or feel drowsy.
After head injury You suffer from persisting headaches after a blow or other
injury to your head (though a mild headache for one to two days after a head
injury is common and usually harmless).
Sleep Your headache prevents you from getting to sleep or wakes you.
Certain situations Your headache is worse on coughing, straining, bending, lying
flat or laughing.
Speech and personality You notice a change in speech or personality.
Odd sensations You develop weakness, numbness or other odd sensations
anywhere on your body, or you feel unsteady on your feet.
Severity You develop a sudden severe headache, like ‘being hit with a hammer’.
Eyes Your eyes feel really uncomfortable when looking at bright light, or you
suffer other new eye symptoms, such as sudden blind spots.
Others symptoms You have muscle pains, pain on chewing, a tender scalp, or
feel unwell.
Where can I find out more?
NHS Choices (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/headache/Pages/Introduction.aspx) and the
Pain Toolkit (www.paintoolkit.org) have more information on how you can treat and
prevent headache. Your pharmacist can also help you with assessing your symptoms.
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