Does COVID Cause Headaches?

Yes, if you’re suffering from headaches, you might want to consider whether you have coronavirus. You should start by thinking about what kind of headache you have. Do you feel pain behind your eyes? Does your head hurt? If you do, then you could be experiencing symptoms of coronavirus.

 

What causes a headache?

Headaches are caused by inflammation in your skull, neck, back, or temples. Most people don't know where their headache comes from, but some people have migraines, meaning they have recurring headaches that last longer than a few hours. Other types of headaches include tension headaches, cluster headaches, sinus headaches, and cephalic neuralgia.

Some drugs cause headaches, including aspirin, caffeine, and nicotine. Alcohol may also cause headaches.

 

Headaches, COVID-19 Symptoms

The symptoms of COVID-19 can vary greatly among individuals. According to the WHO, the symptoms often begin with fever, cough, and fatigue, then progress to shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Other symptoms may include muscle pain, headache, sore throat, chills, and loss of taste and smell. In severe cases, patients can develop pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), septic shock, and even death.

Among the symptoms, headaches are the most common symptom. Studies from trusted sources showed that among the five common symptoms Omicron variant has caused severe headaches for its victims. This is usually accompanied by:

●          Fatigue

●          Runny nose

●          Sore throat

●          Sneezing

 

Headaches and migraines are usually tense and they appear as one of the first symptoms during the first stage of COVID.

Normal headaches usually go away after a couple of weeks. However, after an infection, patients could experience severe long-haul migraines for up to months.

Most people who have experienced this COVID symptom claim to have other severe symptoms that followed the headaches. These include:

●          Pulsing

●          Pain around the eyes and sides of the head

●          Resistance to Over-the-counter drugs

●          Pain on both sides of the head

●          Intense sensitivity to light, smell, sound, or touch

●          Nausea and vomiting

 

All these symptoms may occur in people with no experience of migraines. Unlike regular headaches, migraines are more intense. Other symptoms of COVID may include:

●          Sore throat

●          Loss of senses such as taste and smell

●          Fever

●          Muscle pains

 

If you believe you have coronavirus, make sure you stay home and take care of yourself. Drink plenty of water and rest. If you need help, call your doctor or go to the emergency room. If you are having trouble breathing, call 911 immediately.

 

Sources

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/what-does-covid-headache-feel-like#symptoms

2. https://www.novanthealth.org/healthy-headlines/covid-19-and-headaches-what-you-need-to-know

3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-headache

4. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3103

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