We often consider headaches as a common condition where we only swallow a pill and you’re good to go. However, with a pandemic at hand, a headache is something that you should not underestimate as it can be a COVID headache. In this post, we will discuss everything you need to know about the COVID headache to help you to be vigilant in keeping your family safe.
As top-rated primary care physicians in Pineville, Carolina Medical Associates aims to provide informative health content to promote good health to our community during this pandemic. As the borders open and global vaccination continues, the threat of COVID-19 remains. So, it’s our responsibility to be on the lookout for signs and take proper action as soon as possible.
COVID headache: The subtle warning of your body
Our body has its own way of telling us that it is under attack. Its subtle signs come in the form of immune responses like inflammation, body pain, and headache. With the COVID-19 virus that slowly builds up in the body and can take 14 to 15 days to show major signs, early symptoms are the most crucial. One of the potential signs is a headache.
The hard part when it comes to a headache is it can mean a lot of things. There is also a limited study on how to determine the headache caused by COVID. However, a study shows that some distinct indications set it apart from other conditions like migraine and tension headaches.
How does COVID cause headaches?
According to the theory of experts, the COVID virus takes a while to cause cough because it first invades the nasal cavity near the brain. Once it infiltrates the nasal cavity walls, it causes inflammation that affects the brain, like meningitis. The inflammation will cause pressure on the nasal cavity, which leads to headaches.
In some cases, patients who start to have a runny nose may also experience nasal congestion which will aggravate the headache. The irritation and inflammation may reach the sinuses and cause pressure around the nose.
Common indications of COVID headache
Since there are limited and ongoing studies on COVID, it’s hard for experts to rule out that it’s due to COVID with headache alone. A patient must show other symptoms like cough, fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The headache is also a recurring condition as the patient’s body fights against the viral infection.
Difference between a migraine and a COVID headache
There are subtle differences between a migraine and a COVID headache. First, a COVID headache comes with a fever which is not the case with a migraine. Patients with a COVID headache do not have the sensitivity to light and sounds, which is common for those who have migraines. The headache may also linger for weeks up to months, even after the patient recovers from COVID.
What does a COVID-19 headache feel like?
According to a study on COVID patients, COVID headache ranges from moderate to severe. The pain is described as a throbbing pain or stabbing pain on both sides of the head or in a bilateral pattern. The pain may come with other symptoms and can last until post-covid recovery.
Neurological conditions caused by COVID-19
What makes COVID-19 one of the most severe forms of infection is its ability to cause neurological conditions like loss of smell and taste and headaches. Other neurological complications of COVID stated by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke are as follows:
- Nerve damage
- Problem with focus
- Sleep difficulties
- Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and stress
Post-COVID vaccine headaches
Since vaccines for COVID mimic the composition of the virus or contain the dead strain of the virus to help the body recognize and find a way to fight it. The body will undergo the same symptoms of contracting COVID but at a milder and managed rate. In some cases of COVID-19, patients get fever as well as headaches similar to the actual COVID headache of infected patients.
What to do if you experience COVID headache
If you suspect that you have COVID-19 due to severe and persistent headaches and other COVID-19 symptoms, here are some of the steps that you can do at home:
- Take a rest or sleep: Taking a rest or sleeping allows your body to undergo its natural healing and cell renewal process that can help strengthen the immune system to fight the infection. Take as much quality sleep as you can to tame the onset of inflammation.
- Apply a cold or hot compress: If you are having a hard time sleeping or managing the pain, applying a cold compress can help constrict the blood vessels in your head, reduce the blood flow, and send pain signals. A hot compress, on the other hand, can help relax the muscles in your scalp and temples.
- Take over-the-counter medications: COVID headaches usually go away on their own after a good sleep or rest. You may also take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications to relieve the pain and help you rest better.
- Massage your head: Nothing beats a good massage to help relieve your headache. Pressing on some pain points encourages the release of natural pain relievers of the body and helps relax the tense muscles.
- Consult the medical advice of a healthcare professional: Let your doctor know the symptoms of COVID that you have so you’ll know the next steps to take. Your doctor may prescribe you some medications and recommend getting a COVID-19 test.
Due to the influx of patients in hospitals, scheduling an appointment with a group of independent primary care physicians in Pineville would be less stressful. Carolina Medical Associates can ensure the proper accommodation of your concerns through our comprehensive medical services and guide you until you recover.
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