How Long Do COVID-19 Headaches Last?

Headaches are a common symptom of COVID-19, though it’s unclear exactly how the virus that causes COVID-19–leads to headaches. COVID headaches vary in how they feel, how frequently they occur, and how long they last. They may also be associated with or accompanied by long COVID symptoms. 

COVID headaches may last hours and come back frequently for weeks or months. COVID headaches can disrupt everyday quality of life, and research is ongoing as to what causes them to develop and the best ways to treat them.

This article talks about timelines for COVID headaches, including factors that appear to be associated with longer-lasting COVID headaches and when it’s time to talk to a healthcare provider about them.

Duration of COVID Headache

Headache is one of the most common neurological symptoms of COVID-19, including long COVID.

A systematic review and meta-analysis found the global prevalence of headaches associated with COVID-19 to be approximately 25%. This means that about one in every four people experience headaches when they get COVID-19. The same study showed that headache is almost twice as common in people with COVID-19 compared to people with other respiratory viral infections.

COVID headaches appear to affect certain populations more than others. For example, studies have shown that COVID headache, including headache associated with long COVID, tends to affect more females than males, and younger people (under 50 years of age) than older people.

One study found that the prevalence of headaches varies by COVID variant, but it remains unclear how. The same study concluded that COVID headache is common in both the acute phase of COVID-19 (when you’re sick with COVID-19) and after recovery from COVID-19, regardless of the variant.

COVID headaches have been described as similar to tension headaches and migraines. Studies have shown that people with long COVID more commonly get tension-type headaches. Long COVID headache is often described as moderate to severe and may occur along with other long COVID symptoms, such as:

• Dizziness
• Cognitive dysfunction, such as “brain fog”
• Fatigue
• Decreased sense of smell (hyposmia)
• Insomnia or other sleep problems

Average Timeline

The timeline for how long COVID headache typically lasts varies from person to person and may depend on individual characteristics, such as age and the presence of an existing headache disorder (characterized by recurrent headaches).

Findings on COVID headache duration vary across studies. For example, a cross-sectional study of 172 people with COVID-19 found that the average headache duration was six hours. The same study found that people with COVID-19 who had an existing headache disorder (marked by recurrent headache) experienced longer COVID-19-related headaches, for an average of 12 hours.

A different cross-sectional study of 122 people with COVID-19 found that headache lasted approximately 14 hours on average, and younger people (less than 40 years of age) had longer headaches, for an average of 19 hours. 

COVID headaches can persist for weeks or months after recovery from COVID-19. One small study found that COVID headaches stopped within one month after recovery from COVID-19 for 56% of participants, while it took three months to resolve for 28% of participants.

Headaches associated with long COVID have been shown to be more persistent, potentially lingering more than six months after getting sick with COVID-19. 

Given such a wide range of headache duration across studies, it can be difficult to estimate how long a COVID headache can be expected to last on an individual basis. It’s best to talk with a healthcare provider about when COVID headaches might resolve for you based on your health history and individual characteristics.

What Makes COVID Headaches Last Longer?

There is no single cause as to why COVID headaches last longer in some people than others. Scientists are still studying how and why COVID-19 leads to headaches, and there are currently only hypotheses and no solid evidence.

One study explained three hypotheses as to how COVID-19 and headaches are related. One hypothesis is that infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 disrupts the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which then leads to increased levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide, a protein in the nervous system known to be involved in headache attacks.

Another hypothesis is that the viral infection causes an increase in proinflammatory cytokines, chemicals that induce an inflammatory response and indirectly cause headaches. Higher levels of inflammatory cytokines, specifically IL-6, have been shown to be associated with longer headache duration.

Yet another hypothesis is that the virus disrupts gas exchange in the lung tissues, leading to insufficient oxygen, and in turn leads to ischemia (tissue damage due to reduced blood flow), which has been shown to be related to headaches. The mechanisms behind the development of COVID headache are thought to be similar across COVID-19 variants.

As noted above, younger age and having recurrent headaches (not associated with COVID-19) also seem to be associated with longer headaches. One study showed that people under 40 with COVID-19 had headaches that lasted approximately 19 hours on average versus approximately six hours for people older than 40.

Another study found that among people with an existing headache disorder, COVID headaches lasted 12 hours on average versus six hours for people without an existing headache disorder. A different study found that people who had long COVID headaches for nine months were slightly older (52 versus 47 years of age) and more often female (76% females versus 66% males).

In addition, the presence of headaches in the initial stages of COVID-19 appears to be a risk factor for the development (or persistence) of headaches after COVID-19.

Treatments to Manage COVID Headaches

Treatments for COVID headaches, specifically, are still being studied, and it’s best to talk with a healthcare provider about a treatment plan for your COVID headaches based on the type of headache, frequency, and severity.

For example, current treatments for long COVID headaches are based on treatment recommendations for “regular” headaches, including migraines and tension-type headaches, and may take into account other long COVID symptoms like sleep problems and brain fog. 

Treatment of COVID headache might involve both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. For example, analgesics (painkillers) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might be prescribed to help with tension-type and migraine-like COVID headaches. 

Non-pharmacological treatment approaches, such as lifestyle changes, psychological therapy, and physical therapy, might not directly treat COVID headache but may be helpful in the everyday management of living with COVID headache.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If your COVID headaches are persistent or get worse over time, ask a healthcare provider for an evaluation. Be prepared to describe your headaches, including the type of pain (e.g., throbbing, dull), how long the headache usually lasts, and how many you get in a week. 

Seek medical attention right away if your headache is intolerable or feels like the worst headache you’ve ever had. In addition, see a healthcare provider right away if any of the following symptoms accompany your severe headache:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever
• Muscle weakness or convulsions
• Difficulty breathing 
• Blurred or double vision
• Stiffness in your neck
• Changes in consciousness
• Feeling confused

A Word From Verywell

Headache is a common symptom of COVID-19 infection and can often be treated with home remedies and over-the-counter medications.

— GEETIKA GUPTA, MD, MEDICAL REVIEW BOARD

Summary

Headache is a common symptom of COVID-19 and may persist after recovery from COVID or as part of living with long COVID. COVID headache varies in duration, usually lasting for hours, and may recur frequently for weeks or months.

Research is ongoing on how the virus causes headaches and what makes COVID headaches long-lasting. COVID headache treatment may include medication and non-medical approaches, like lifestyle changes and therapy.