Headaches are extremely common, and most are not a sign of anything dangerous. They come in different types, and knowing which kind you tend to get helps point toward what is going on.
Most headaches fall into a few patterns. Tension-type headaches often feel like a tight band of pressure around the head. Migraines can bring throbbing pain, often on one side, sometimes with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. There are other, less common types too. Recognising your pattern is a useful starting point.
Headaches can be set off or worsened by stress, poor sleep, dehydration, skipping meals, eye strain, and certain foods or drinks for some people. Keeping track of when your headaches happen and what came before them can reveal patterns that help you and your clinician.
Seek urgent medical help for a headache that is sudden and severe, often described as the worst of your life, or a headache with fever and a stiff neck, confusion, weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, vision changes, or one that follows a head injury. These features can point to problems that need immediate attention. New or changing headaches are worth discussing with a clinician.
Mednex asks a short set of structured questions and gives a cited, plain-language read on what could be involved and what to consider next.
Start a symptom checkContent last reviewed 9 July 2026. Reference ranges vary by laboratory; always read your results against the range printed on your own report.
This page describes a common symptom in general terms using public information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine. It is educational and is not a diagnosis or medical advice, and it cannot tell you what is causing your symptom. If your symptom is severe, sudden, or does not go away, or if you are worried, contact a healthcare professional.