A headache can feel like a minor annoyance—or be a major disruption to your day. Headaches can happen due to a variety of different reasons. But when a headache shows up suddenly alongside fatigue, body aches, or a scratchy throat, it’s natural to wonder whether your headache was an early sign that you’re getting sick. Understanding why headaches often appear at the start of an illness can help you decide when to rest at home and when to seek medical care.

At AFC Urgent Care Centennial, our walk-in clinic in Centennial, CO provides convenient same-day symptom evaluation and treatment. We’re open 7 days a week, and have short wait times. Walk into the clinic today for same-day care, or save your spot online in advance using the button below.

Why Do Headaches Happen When You’re Sick?

Headaches are a very common illness symptom. This happens when your immune system activates to fight off an infection. During this process, your immune system releases inflammatory chemicals which can affect blood vessels and nerves in your head, triggering pain and pressure. Headaches can also occur due to certain symptoms like nasal congestion which can cause a build up of pressure in your nasal passages as well as dehydration which can constrict the vessels in your head.

Tips for Identifying if Your Headache is an Illness Symptom

If you suddenly develop a headache, it is important to consider that it could be an early illness symptom. If your headache is accompanied with additional symptoms, such as congestion, a runny nose, cough, sore throat, or fatigue - it is likely that you are getting sick and your headache is caused by an illness. Headaches are often nothing to worry about and will go away on their own. You can take OTC medications to reduce discomfort and target the underlying conditions like congestion or the flu, which could be causing your headache.

How to Relieve a Headache When You’re Sick

If you’re suddenly experiencing a mild headache and think it could be because you’re getting sick, it is important to act quickly. Managing your symptoms while they’re mild is much easier than managing severe symptoms. Staying hydrated and managing congestion are the best ways to manage a headache caused by an illness, because dehydration and sinus congestion are the major causes of a headache when you’re sick. Getting plenty of rest, and not pushing yourself too hard will also allow your body to rest and heal.

Visit AFC Centennial for Early Illness Detection and Convenient Illness Treatment

Being sick can be very frustrating, especially when you’re suffering from symptoms like headaches. Headaches are often an early illness symptom, caused by swelling in the nasal passages or constricted blood vessels. The best way to treat an illness-induced headache is to identify and treat the underlying cause.

At AFC Urgent Care Centennial, our walk-in urgent care clinic provides convenient same-day illness symptom diagnosis and treatment. No need to schedule an appointment in advance, simply walk in when it’s convenient. We’re open every day! Our clinic accepts most medical insurance plans, and we have affordable self-pay rates for patients without insurance. To learn more, give the clinic a call at (303) 220-9168.