Prior to a positive COVID-19 test, the most prevalent symptoms of infection were a cough, fever, and shortness of breath. However, the most recent variations have added a new, escalating symptom to the list: headache.
According to Thomas Gut, D.O., director of the Post-COVID Recovery Center at Staten Island University Hospital, a division of Northwell Health in New York, "earlier in the pandemic we were seeing headaches frequently in patients who had lost their sense of smell and taste, but with Omicron, we are now seeing headaches even without loss of senses, and they often occur both during and after the infection period."
According to Thomas Gut, D.O., director of the Post-COVID Recovery Center at Staten Island University Hospital, a division of Northwell Health in New York, "earlier in the pandemic we were seeing headaches frequently in patients who had lost their sense of smell and taste, but with Omicron, we are now seeing headaches even without loss of senses, and they often occur both during and after the infection period."
And studies that support those clinical observations from anecdotal evidence are beginning to appear. According to a recent study published in The BMJ, the most frequently reported Omicron symptoms were headache, fatigue, and cold-like symptoms like a runny nose. Another study published in The Journal of Headache and Pain found headache to be one of the most common and persistent "long-term" symptoms.
Additionally, according to medical professionals, both those who are predisposed (i.e., had headaches in the past before the infection) and those who have never experienced a headache at all are showing symptoms of Covid-19. It's regrettable that many patients are reporting experiencing their first headache while taking Covid, says neurologist Rafia Shafqat, M.D.
What you should know about a Covid-19 headache and how to get some relief are provided here.
How does a headache caused by COVID-19 feel?
This may seem familiar if you've ever had a headache or deal with them frequently. There are many different types of headaches, the most common of which being migraine, tension, and cluster, so there's a chance you haven't ever had a headache like this one. It can also be a migraine-type headache that comes with nausea or light and sound sensitivity, according to Rachel Colman, M.D., a board-certified neurologist and headache medicine specialist at Hartford Healthcare Ayer Neuroscience Institute in Connecticut. "Most people report it to be a tension-type headache, with a band-like phenomenon, but it can also be a migraine-type headache," she adds.
A COVID-19 headache may also resemble or be accompanied by, according to Dr. Shafqat:
1. pulsing or throbbing pain
2. Pain in the temples or back of the head that is sudden and sharp
3. dizziness, lightheadedness, or vertigo
4. Sensory dysfunction, including tingling or numbness, trouble thinking, or ringing in the ears
What brings on a headache in COVID-19?
There might be a few factors involved. According to Dr. Colman, a headache may be brought on by a number of factors, including the inflammation that the virus causes to spread throughout your body and the inflammation of your brain's blood vessels. Then there is the possibility of a neurological component, given that we are aware that COVID-19 can affect our nervous system and that headaches in general are a neurological issue. According to Dr. Colman, the virus may attack nerves that cause headache pain and have an effect on blood vessels in the brain once it has passed through the nose and reached the olfactory bulb, which affects our sense of smell. "So, one theory for why people experience COVID-related headaches is a direct invasion."
A headache may also be caused by or made worse by additional conditions that develop during an infection, such as inadequate hydration, inadequate nutrition, or poor sleep.
How long does a headache from COVID-19 last?
It varies. While some people may get headaches throughout the duration of the active infection, others may only experience them for a few days. Even more ambiguous is the duration of "long COVID" headaches, which can linger for days, weeks, or even months. It's a jumbled bunch. "Some patients who have previously experienced migraine and tension headaches report that they become more frequent immediately after COVID, and some individuals who have never regularly experienced them are developing lingering tension headache symptoms," says Dr. Gut. The headache symptoms typically disappear after a few months.