Is a Headache a Symptom of the Coronavirus Disease 5?

If your headaches worsen or increase in frequency, reach out to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. They may refer you to a specialist.

COVID-19 symptoms may last for months if you develop long-term COVID (post-CoVID syndrome). Ibuprofen and acetaminophen may provide temporary relief, though more long-term headaches may require prescription medication.

Table of Contents

Causes

A headache is an all too familiar symptom of many illnesses. Its causes vary, from stress and poor diet to lack of sleep and medications; and can even be indicative of more serious underlying medical conditions, like brain tumors or strokes; yet most often its source remains unknown – regardless of which cause is behind a headache’s pain, its impact can be very disruptive to daily life and can even become debilitating.

In 2019, China saw the discovery of a newly identified coronavirus, now dubbed SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV. This infection typically spreads by droplets released during coughing or sneezing; crowds or poorly ventilated indoor areas can also become susceptible. Anyone can be affected, though certain individuals are at higher risk for severe symptoms like pneumonia.

At the initial stages of COVID-19 infection, headache is one of the more frequent early symptoms. While its exact cause remains elusive, research shows that SARS-CoV-2 virus may be more likely than other respiratory viruses to trigger such pain in its victims – perhaps via effects on brain tissue itself; alternatively it could also be related to dehydration or hunger.

After initial COVID-19 illness, some patients experience long-term post-CoVID-19 headaches – also referred to as post-CoVID-19 syndrome. These headaches may last weeks or even months and could include migraine-like symptoms.

Long-COVID headache symptoms vary between individuals, depending on both the strain of virus involved and immune system of those being infected with COVIDs. Furthermore, its onset may be delayed; patients may not receive preventive treatments in time to lessen attacks in frequency and severity such as medications, lifestyle changes, trigger avoidance strategies and behavioral therapy – although most effective when taken as soon as you detect an attack coming on – in this way preventing further disruption to everyday life and saving precious minutes!

Symptoms

Headaches are one of the most prevalent symptoms of illness, ranging from mild to disabling. Headaches result from an intricate network of signals between your brain, blood vessels and nearby nerves – with specific nerves in blood vessels or head muscles turning on when inflamed blood vessels are irritated or inflamed and sending pain signals directly to your brain. Headaches may be related to viruses like colds or influenza; other times they could be due to medical conditions like sinusitis, ear infections or strokes or side effects from taking certain medications – or they could just be side effects from medications prescribed by medical practitioners as a side effect of taking certain medicines or being an adverse side effect of taking medicines themselves.

The new coronavirus spreads via respiratory droplets released into the air when infected persons cough, sneeze or speak, which are then inhaled by other people and become infectious themselves. After entering someone’s throat or mucous membrane in their nose or mouth, where it grows rapidly before beginning its spread to other parts of their body.

Coronavirus infections have the potential to be deadly. People infected may require hospitalization and supportive care, including breathing support services; elderly adults and those living with chronic medical conditions have an increased risk for pneumonia due to this virus infection.

People with prior SARS or MERS infections are at greater risk for serious complications from these infections, including pneumonia. As such, those infected should take extra measures to limit contact with others and practice good hygiene, including staying at least 6 feet from others, wearing face masks when necessary and washing hands frequently with alcohol-based hand rub.

Doctors usually diagnose COVID-19 by reviewing your medical and symptom histories, conducting a physical exam and conducting neurological tests. Computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may reveal damage to blood vessels in the skull or brain, inflammation of bones in the neck and spine, certain types of brain tumors, brain hemorrhages or other issues which could contribute to headaches. Lab screening tests such as blood and urine tests; electroencephalography (EEG); spinal tap testing to check fluid that surrounds brain and spinal cord; echocardiogram to measure heart rhythms are all diagnostic tools doctors rely upon.

Diagnosis

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available, and one of the best ways to defend yourself against this virus. It works by blocking coronavirus germs responsible for infection; you can receive either an intramuscular shot or take an oral dose to ensure protection from COVID-19.

If you do become infected with COVID-19, vaccination may help lessen its severity; however, you could still experience some or all of its common symptoms, including headaches. Headaches caused by COVID-19 can be extremely painful and last up to several days – another potential complication from infection with this virus.

COVID-19 symptoms usually appear two to 14 days after contact with the virus, with fever, cough and difficulty breathing being common symptoms. Fatigue, loss of taste or smell sensation, muscle pain as well as congestion or runny nose can also occur as part of this virus infection.

People infected with COVID-19 may experience headaches in the initial phase of their illness. The headaches may have throbbing or pressing qualities and worsen when moving or trying to concentrate, typically lasting for several days before subsiding on their own.

Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will recover without serious health complications; however, older adults and those living with preexisting medical conditions are at greater risk of contracting pneumonia or experiencing other severe side effects from this infection.

COVID-19 infection can result in symptoms that persist beyond one month; this condition is known as long COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 syndrome and symptoms may include headaches, tiredness, stomach ache, trouble breathing and changes to taste and smell sensations.

If you have COVID-19, it’s essential that you try to avoid close contact with other people and wear a face mask when in close quarters with them. Also practicing good hygiene such as frequent handwashing or using alcohol-based hand rubs is another effective way to protect against spread.

Treatment

Headaches are an all too familiar health condition. From mild to severe, lasting several days or weeks and being caused by many different sources, headaches are one of the primary factors responsible for missed work or school days and visits to a physician. While treatment options depend on what triggered it initially, any given cause of headaches will eventually need attention as well.

As part of diagnosing headaches, physicians conduct a review of medical history and physical/neurological exam. Blood tests or other lab screenings may also be performed in order to rule out or identify conditions which may contribute to headaches; such as testing fluid that surrounds the brain/spinal cord to detect infections/toxins affecting nerves/blood vessels as well as congestion/inflammation issues that could contribute to headaches; while x-rays can show congestion/inflammation issues which can contribute to headaches.

Other imaging tests available to you include computed tomography scans (CT scans), which use X-rays and computer technology to create horizontal or axial slices (often known as slices) of your body that show bone, muscle, fat and organ structures more clearly than traditional X-rays can. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses large magnets and radiofrequencies to generate detailed pictures of organs and structures within your body.

If you have COVID-19, your doctor may advise staying home to recuperate. He or she may advise staying away from close family and friends as well as wearing a mask when in public and not touching anyone or animals. In addition, regular handwashing will likely be recommended and you should try not touching your face, nose, or eyes as this disease spreads easily through coughs, sneezes, talking or touching surfaces contaminated by COVID-19 carriers.