What Is a COVID Headache?
A COVID headache is a headache that you get as a symptom of COVID-19, or the coronavirus. It’s a common symptom, and about half of people with COVID-19 have a COVID headache.
A headache is often one of the first symptoms that people with COVID get, and for some people, it may be the only symptom. Usually, a COVID headache is similar to a headache you might get when you’re not sick.
Scientists don’t know for sure what causes COVID headaches, but research suggests that it may be because COVID activates the trigeminal nerve. That nerve carries signals between your face and your brain, helping your face recognize pain and other sensations.
People who are younger and people who have a history of migraines or other headaches are more likely to have COVID headaches. They are also more common in people who lose their sense of taste or smell when they have COVID.
Post-COVID headache
Sometimes, headaches keep happening even after you’ve gotten over COVID. Long COVID is a chronic condition that lasts weeks, months, or even years after a COVID illness. People with long COVID have symptoms that linger, and long COVID headache is one of them. This can happen even if you had a mild case of COVID.
Sometimes, long COVID headaches don’t really go away – the pain gets more or less intense, but the headaches persist.
What Does a COVID Headache Feel Like?
COVID headache is usually moderate to strong, and it often feels like it’s tightening or pressing. But people with COVID headaches may have different types of pain.
A COVID headache may feel similar to a tension headache or a migraine. A tension headache usually feels like a tight band around your head, including your forehead and temples. A migraine headache might feel like a throbbing or pulsing pain, and it’s usually on one side of your head.
The pain from a COVID headache may get worse when you’re coughing or moving your head or neck, or during physical activity.
COVID headache location
If you have a COVID headache, you typically feel it on both sides of your head or in your forehead. But the location of the pain may be different from person to person.
How Long Does a COVID Headache Last?
Like other COVID symptoms, such as a fever, coughing, and a sore throat, COVID headaches usually clear up in a few days. One study found that COVID headaches typically lasted 4 days.
But sometimes, a COVID headache can last for months after your other symptoms go away and you no longer test positive for COVID. People who have a COVID headache when they first get infected with COVID may be more likely to have long COVID headaches. One study found a link between headaches during the acute phase of COVID and long-term post-COVID headaches and fatigue.
COVID Headache Diagnosis
A first step in figuring out whether you have a COVID headache is to get tested for COVID-19, if you haven’t already. And if you test positive, talk to your doctor about your symptoms. They can help find out whether your headache is a COVID headache or unrelated to COVID. The symptoms often are similar to those of typical headaches, tension headaches, and migraines.
If you have recovered from COVID but you’re still having headaches, see your doctor. They probably will do a physical exam and ask about your history, such as whether you had frequent headaches before COVID, and the type and frequency of the pain from your headaches. They may ask about any other symptoms you might be having, because symptoms such as loss of taste and loss of smell often happen along with long COVID headaches.
COVID Headache Treatment
Treatment for COVID headaches may be similar to treatment for other headaches, including over-the-counter pain relievers, like acetaminophen, or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen. But be careful not to use these pain relievers for more than a week, because it can cause a rebound headache, or a headache that’s caused by overusing these medications. Be sure to see your doctor if your COVID headache persists.
Resting, getting enough sleep, drinking fluids, and avoiding caffeine also may help ease COVID headaches.
For a long COVID headache, the treatment your doctor recommends may vary, depending on the type of headache symptoms you have. If your headache is similar to a tension headache, your doctor may prescribe pain relievers, and treatment may include caffeine. For migraine-like symptoms, your doctor may prescribe other treatment, such as IV migraine medications like prochlorperazine and metoclopramide.
Your doctor also may prescribe preventive medications, such as antidepressants and anti-seizure medications, to treat a long COVID headache.
To prevent COVID headaches, it’s best to avoid getting COVID-19 in the first place. So it’s a good idea to get vaccinated against COVID-19, because it helps you avoid getting infected and avoid long-term symptoms. Long COVID symptoms like headaches are more common in people who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Takeaways
A headache is a common symptom of COVID, and it usually gets better on its own in a few days. But COVID headaches can be intense and persistent, and the right treatment can vary, depending on the type of pain you’re having. So it’s important to talk to your doctor about your headache symptoms. Sometimes, COVID headaches stick around long after you get over a COVID infection, and that may be a sign that you have long COVID. Your doctor can help you find the right treatment if your headaches are from long COVID.
COVID Headache FAQs
Can you prevent COVID headaches?
The best way to prevent COVID headaches is to avoid getting COVID-19 by getting vaccinated. A headache is a common symptom of COVID.
How do you get rid of a COVID headache?
Sometimes, over-the-counter pain relievers can get rid of a COVID headache. But if your headache lasts for more than a few days, ask your doctor. They may recommend a different treatment, depending on the symptoms you have.
Is it normal to wake up with a headache after having COVID?
A headache is a common symptom of COVID. But if you have persistent headaches after you’ve recovered from COVID, this may be a sign that you have long COVID.
