How to Treat Covid Headache?

Through April 2022, more than 508 million people had contracted COVID-19, a viral infection. It is caused by a coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses are a sizable viral family that causes respiratory illnesses.

One of the most prevalent symptoms of COVID-19 is headaches. In December 2021, data from the COVID Symptoms Study revealed that headaches were one of the five most often reported symptoms of the Omicron variation, alongside:

Runny nose
Fatigue
Sneezing
Aching throat

COVID-19 has been associated with stress and migraine headaches. When headaches manifest, they are frequently one of the earliest symptoms.

In most cases, headaches resolve after a couple of weeks, but some individuals endure persistent headaches for weeks or months following an illness.

Continue reading to learn more about COVID-19 testing and Covid-19 headache symptoms and treatment options.

Headache symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection

Numerous investigations have revealed that headaches are one of COVID-19's most prevalent neurological symptoms. When they manifest, they are typically the initial sign.

However, migraines induced by COVID-19 have no distinguishing characteristics from other types headaches.

It is vital to note if the headache is more intense than normal or if it arises at an odd time and is not the result of typical stressors.

Most individuals with COVID-19-related headaches get tension headaches with the following characteristics.

moderate or severe severity
Both sides of the head hurt.
pushing or pulsating sensation
Headaches around the forehead, sides of the head, or eyes
Poor responses to nonprescription drugs

About a quarter of individuals with COVID-19 headaches also experience migraine attacks. These headaches can arise in individuals with no migraine history.

Migraine may cause:

Typically experienced on one side of the head.
throbbing or pulsating discomfort
sensitivity to sound, sight, smell, or touch
sickness and vomiting

Those infected with COVID-19 who get headaches typically also exhibit the following:

fever
aching throat
loss of flavor
absence of smell
muscular aches

In a 2022 study, researchers discovered that 22.2 percent of 288 COVID-19 patients experienced neurological symptoms. 69.1% of these individuals got headaches.

Typically, headaches lasted seven days. 18% of individuals who had headaches experienced them for more than 30 days, and 10% for more than three months.

In a second 2022 trial, researchers discovered that, among 905 individuals who suffered COVID-19 headaches, 50 percent experienced headaches lasting longer than two weeks.

How to remedy headaches brought on by COVID-19

If you have a history of headaches, avoiding your known triggers may lessen the frequency of future headaches. Alcohol is a common migraine trigger. Therefore avoiding it may be beneficial.

Several home treatments may assist you in managing your symptoms. These consist of the following:

OTC drugs, including aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), and acetaminophen (Tylenol)
rest
Applying pressure to the forehead and temples
a cold compress was applied on the forehead

Corticosteroids may aid in treating persistent headaches that have not responded to previous treatments.

Could headache be the only symptom of the COVID-19 virus?

It's possible, but it's more likely that you'll experience additional symptoms, including a fever and cough, along with your headache, according to Dr. Schaffner.

Still, if you have a persistent headache that seems to have appeared out of nowhere and you're also feeling rather bad, you shouldn't disregard it. Richard Watkins, M.D., infectious disease physician, and professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, explains, "If a person has any symptom normally associated with a viral illness, there should be a high level of suspicion for COVID-19."

However, the only way to know for certain is to be tested for COVID-19. If you do not feel up to making a trip to your doctor's office or local testing location, you can now have a loved one pick up at-home tests for the virus from a nearby pharmacy.

What can you do immediately to relieve your headache?

You may have heard in the past that taking ibuprofen when suffering from COVID-19 can worsen symptoms. Later, however, the WHO presented a comprehensive report that investigated the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, on individuals with viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19. The investigation indicated "no evidence" that NSAIDs exacerbated the infection.

When it comes to treating head discomfort caused by COVID-19, according to Dr. Adalja, common headache medications should be effective. He explains that it can be treated with aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen. COVID-19 headaches "often persist many hours," according to Dr. Adalja, but over-the-counter pain medicines should help reduce this duration.

What Contributes to COVID Headaches?

Despite being categorized under a single name, headaches can vary considerably in intensity, location, frequency, and etiology. The International Classification of Headache Disorders identifies over 150 distinct forms of headaches.

Patients with COVID can have a variety of various forms of headaches. Even many types of headaches might manifest simultaneously. It is unknown why some people with long-term COVID have headaches while others do not. Several ideas, including an inflammatory cytokine storm, vascular issues, and disruption of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), are being investigated by scientists. In this article, we will discuss the following headache causes:

Inflammation
Vascular problems
dysfunctional ANS
respiratory issues
Vestibular dysfunction
Vision problems
Predisposition to migraine
excessive medication use
Lifestyle changes
Alcohol, caffeine, and pharmaceuticals

Because there are so many potential headache reasons, not every treatment method is effective for every patient. Knowing the underlying cause of your headaches is essential for selecting the most effective treatment.