What is headache?
Headache is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. The vast majority are primary headaches: tension-type (most common), migraine (most disabling), or cluster (rare but intense).
A clinician can sort out which type you have and prescribe both acute relief (for individual attacks) and preventive treatment if attacks are frequent or severe. Medication overuse — taking OTC pain relievers too often — is a common cause of worsening headaches and needs a different approach.
Do I have headache? Common signs
If most of these describe what you're experiencing, telehealth may be a good next step:
What causes it
Multifactorial. Tension headaches: muscle tension, stress, posture, dehydration, eye strain. Migraine: genetic, hormonal, triggers like sleep changes, food, weather. Cluster: unknown but linked to hypothalamus. Medication overuse: taking acute pain meds more than 10–15 days per month.
Is it contagious?
No.
If you're taking pain meds for headache more than twice a week, you may be making it worse — medication overuse headache is treatable but requires a reset.
Can it be treated online?
Routine recurring headaches are well-suited to telehealth. Sudden 'worst headache of life,' headache with fever and stiff neck, new headache over 50, headache after head injury, neurologic symptoms (weakness, vision loss, confusion), or thunderclap headache need emergency care.
How headache is treated
Acute migraine: triptans (sumatriptan, rizatriptan), NSAIDs, antiemetics, CGRP receptor antagonists (ubrogepant, rimegepant). Preventive: propranolol, topiramate, amitriptyline, CGRP antibodies (Aimovig, Ajovy, Emgality) for frequent migraine. Tension: NSAIDs, acetaminophen, address triggers (sleep, stress, posture).
Self-care while you wait
- Regular sleep schedule — same time every day
- Stay hydrated
- Limit caffeine to one consistent dose
- Eat regular meals — don't skip
- Identify and avoid triggers (alcohol, certain foods, weather changes)
- Stress management — yoga, meditation, exercise
- Track headaches in a diary
How long does it last?
Tension headaches usually 30 min to several hours. Migraines 4–72 hours. Cluster headaches 15 min to 3 hours in clusters lasting weeks. Chronic patterns (15+ days/month) need preventive treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Is it migraine or tension headache?
Migraine is usually one-sided, throbbing, with nausea or light/sound sensitivity, worse with activity. Tension is bilateral pressure/tightness without those features. Many people have both.
Can I get triptans through telehealth?
Yes — sumatriptan, rizatriptan, and others are commonly prescribed online for migraine when appropriate.
Why are my headaches getting worse?
Common reasons: medication overuse (taking acute pain meds too often), poor sleep, increasing stress, new medication. A clinician can sort it out.
Should I get an MRI?
Most chronic headaches don't need imaging. Indications include: sudden severe, new with neurologic symptoms, after head injury, over 50 with new pattern.
Does Botox really work for migraine?
Yes — for chronic migraine (15+ days/month) Botox is FDA-approved and effective. Administered every 12 weeks in person.
