Symptom Checker

  • When to seek medical advice

    • Seek prompt medical care if your headache:

    • Is sudden and severe
    • Accompanies a fever, stiff neck, rash, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking
    • Follows a head injury, fall or bump
    • Gets worse despite rest and over-the-counter pain medication

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Headaches

Find possible causes of headaches based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your symptom.

  • Mild

  • Moderate

  • On both sides of your head

  • On one side of your face

  • On one side of your head

  • Severe

  • Throbbing

  • Lasts 30 minutes to a full week

  • Lasts 4 to 72 hours

  • Lasts less than 3 hours

  • Lasts only 1 or 2 seconds

  • Often occurs about the same time of day

  • Over hours to days

  • Over weeks to months

  • With routine physical activity

  • Pain medication

  • Rest

  • Change in sleep patterns

  • Clenching or grinding teeth

  • Hormonal changes

  • Stress

  • Touching your face or eating

  • Confusion

  • Fever

  • Jaw pain

  • Jaw pain with chewing

  • Mental disturbances or altered levels of consciousness

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Persistent weakness or numbness

  • Restlessness or agitation

  • Runny or stuffy nose

  • Seizures

  • Sensitivity to light or noise

  • Sharp, boring eye pain

  • Stiff neck

  • Stiff, achy arms and hips

  • Sudden dizziness or loss of balance

  • Sudden numbness or weakness, usually on one side of your body

  • Tender scalp

  • Vision problems

 

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