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DownloadHeadaches are common and in the vast majority of cases are not life threatening although they can cause discomfort and interfere with our lives.
You have been seen in the Emergency department and we do not believe that you have a life-threatening cause of headache. It may be that if the headache is interfering with your life or causing you discomfort that you need to be seen by a specialist. Please talk to your GP if you think this is the case.
To help you, we would advise using over-the-counter painkillers and considering lifestyle changes, such as getting more rest and drinking enough fluids.
See a doctor urgently, if, along with the headache
For general medical advice please use the NHS website www.nhs.uk, the NHS 111 service, walk in centres, or your GP.
Tension headaches.
Migraines.
Cluster headaches.
Painkillers.
Self-care.
There are a number of steps that can reduce the risk of headaches and ease the pain of headaches that do arise
It is also useful to ensure you have seen an optician recently to rule out eye strain as a cause.
If you have gas appliances at home, ensure they have been safety tested for carbon monoxide if your headaches are worse when you are at home.
The most common methods recommended for treating headaches are rest and over-the-counter pain relief.
Call 999 or go to the Emergency Department if:
For general medical advice please use the NHS website, the NHS 111 service, walk-in-centres, or your GP.
The information in this article is for guidance purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional clinical advice by a qualified practitioner.
Publication Date: July 2022
Review Date: April 2025