🚑 Seek urgent care if:
- A sudden, severe 'worst-ever' headache, headache with fever and a stiff neck, with weakness, numbness, slurred speech, confusion or vision loss, after a head injury, or a new persistent headache over age 50.→ Treat as a medical emergency — seek immediate care.
Classical understanding
- Classified by doṣa involvement in the head (śiras); linked to disturbed vāta/pitta, digestion, sleep and strain.
General self-care (safe for most)
- Keep well hydrated, maintain regular sleep and meals, reduce eye and screen strain, and manage stress; a calm, dark rest can ease a simple tension headache.
Any red-flag headache needs urgent medical assessment; recurrent headaches should be evaluated by a Vaidya or physician.
View sources — 2 classical & official references ›
- Classical text Charaka Saṁhitā
- Classical text Mādhava Nidāna