Is your headache a sign of COVID-19? Here's how you can tell the difference
How to differentiate between a COVID headache and a normal one
As the novel coronavirus continues to spread its fangs across the globe, it is easy to panic at the sight of a sniffle, a bout of cold and even a lingering headache. With the SARS-CoV-2 raging on and manifesting in different ways in different people, pandemic panic is a real thing. If you have been experiencing debilitating headaches more frequently than before, coronavirus-related stress may be to blame. The blurring boundaries between work and home, the looming cloud of unemployment and the fervent worrying of contracting the infection every time you step out--a lot of these circumstances can be blamed for your now near-continuous headache.
The unprecedented changes in lifestyle can trigger these headaches
The pandemic has changed the very face of our reality, in more ways than one. Not only are we glued to our screens a lot more, but our fitness-related activities have also gone down dramatically (think walking, running, working out, meditation etc.). To top it all, our sleeping habits have also taken a major hit. These drastic change in daily habits can also be blamed for your frequent headaches or more migraine headaches.
Is your headache a sign of COVID-19?
Given that headache is also one of the
symptoms of COVID-19, it is natural to get worked up with a bout of a
throbbing headache. While it may not be one of the most common signs of
COVID-19 (dry cough, fever, extreme exhaustion, lack of smell or taste),
roughly 14 per cent people have experienced COVID headache as well,
according to the World Health Organization. Before panicking about a
headache, be on a lookout for anything out of the ordinary when it comes
to your headaches. If it feels like your regular headache or migraine
headache minus any telltale signs of COVID-19 (fever, dry cough, loss of
smell and taste), it is quite likely a regular headache.
How does a COVID headache feel like?
A headache caused by COVID-19 may feel like a tight, squeezing sensation around your head, which experts believe can be caused due to the cytokine storm which leads to inflammation and pain. All in all, a headache may not be a cause of concern unless it presents itself in a different manner than before or is accompanied by other subtle symptoms like unexplained exhaustion, body ache, feeling worn out etc.
The bottom line
However, if you do feel that your headache is something out of ordinary and there is something that doesn’t quite feel right about it, make sure that you check for other signs and symptoms of coronavirus and get in touch with your medical care provider.