If You Think You Have a COVID Headache, Here Are the Exact Symptoms to Look Out For
Yes, it really is different from other types of headaches.
Fever or chills, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell are hallmark symptoms of COVID and telltale signs that it’s a good idea to take a rapid test and self-isolate. But though it’s less talked about, experiencing headaches is another extremely common symptom too.
“Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of a COVID viral infection. One in four individuals infected with COVID will complain of a headache,” says Dr. Amy Shah, MD, author of the upcoming book I’m So Effing Hungry.
This doesn’t mean that every time you get a headache you should worry that you’ve been infected with the virus. It helps to know what a COVID headache feels like compared to other types of headaches, though, when you should see a doctor, and how to feel better—fast.
Related: Should You Get the Flu Shot and COVID Booster at the Same Time? Doctors Share the Pros and Cons
Why Does COVID Cause Headaches?
COVID is a respiratory virus, so it can be surprising to learn that it can also cause headaches for some people. “Most viruses, including COVID, have a propensity to challenge the immune system and cause inflammation. That inflammation can cause headaches,” explains Dr. Kiran Rajneesh, MD, a pain medicine specialist and a clinical associate professor of neurology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Dr. Rajneesh explains that the covering of the brain, known as the meninges, has a lot of nerve supply and is very sensitive to pain. “When you have a virus that challenges your immunity and causes inflammation, which COVID does, the covering of the brain is so sensitive that people can start experiencing headaches,” he explains.
There are other reasons COVID can lead to headaches too. Dr. Rajneesh explains that the virus can reduce blood supply to the brain, which can also lead to a headache. “Because the brain has to do more work because you have an infection, it can cause an imbalance in supply versus demand [in terms of blood supply],” he says.
On top of all of this, Dr. Shah adds that if someone is dehydrated, this can also contribute to a headache. And if your COVID headache is long-lasting, she says researchers studying COVID believe it could be due to the virus irritating the trigeminal nerve in the brain, which is responsible for longer-term pain.
What Does a COVID Headache Feel Like and How Long Does It Last?
Wondering what a COVID headache feels like? Dr. Shah says that it's typically a pulsing, pressing or stabbing sensation. “It occurs bilaterally across the entire head, as opposed to a migraine, which is unilateral,” she says. Dr. Rajneesh says something else that differentiates COVID headaches from other types of headaches is the other symptoms it’s often accompanied with, such as fever and runny nose, which aren’t typically associated with migraines or a tension headache.
Here’s the real bummer: Dr. Shah says that COVID headaches tend to be longer lasting than other types of headaches, often lasting longer than three days. In fact, Dr. Rajneesh says that headaches are becoming one of the symptoms that some people with “long COVID” experience. “In one study, more than half of people with COVID had symptoms, including headaches, six months after their initial infection,” Dr. Shah says of this.
“All of us are born with certain genetic predispositions to headaches and there are some environmental [factors] that can either raise or lower that threshold,” Dr. Rajneesh says. He explains that some infections, like COVID, can lower the threshold, unlocking an otherwise masked genetic predisposition to headaches. “For some people with a genetic predisposition to headaches, COVID will lower the threshold and it stays low, which can cause someone to experience brain fog, migraines or tension headaches more often than they did before,” Dr. Rajneesh says.
How To Treat a COVID Headache
While not every headache is caused by COVID, if you have even a slight worry that you have the virus, Dr. Rajneesh says to take a rapid test. Suppose you test positive and are generally healthy with no underlying conditions. In that case, he says to hydrate (Dr. Shah also says this step is important), rest up, take acetaminophen (like Tylenol) and self-isolate so you do not spread the virus to others.
If you have any underlying health conditions and test positive for COVID, Dr. Rajneesh says to contact your healthcare provider. He says it’s important to do so because people with underlying health conditions are at an increased risk for severe COVID. “You want to get your headache treated, but also minimize any long-term damage that COVID can sometimes do,” he says.
To get relief from a COVID headache, Dr. Shah reiterates the advice of taking acetaminophen and staying hydrated. She says that applying a warm or cold compress to your neck for about 15 or 20 minutes can also help alleviate symptoms. If you try all of this and your headache still won’t go away, she says to reach out to your healthcare provider who may be able to give you a prescription medication. She says this can also be a helpful step if your COVID headaches are recurring and a potential sign of long COVID.
COVID headaches are yet another reason to take precautions to protect yourself from the virus, including getting vaccinated and boosted. Fortunately, it is something doctors are aware of and are continuing to learn more about as the long-term effects of COVID are studied.
One thing’s for sure: Getting COVID is a real headache!
Next up, find out how to tell the difference between cold versus COVID symptoms.
Sources
Dr. Amy Shah, MD, double-board certified doctor and author of the upcoming book I’m So Effing Hungry
Dr. Kiran Rajneesh, MD, pain medicine specialist and a clinical associate professor of neurology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
