How Long Do Headaches Last? And Why You Have Constant Headaches

Most headaches are gone within a few hours. When one drags on for days, or you seem to have a headache most of the time, it is natural to worry. How long a headache lasts, and how often it returns, are useful clues to what type of headache it is and what will help.

This guide explains how long different headaches usually last, why you might have a headache for three days or more, the common reasons for constant headaches and when to get help.

Quick answer

Tension-type headaches usually last a few hours but can last from 30 minutes to seven days. Migraine attacks usually last 4 to 72 hours. Headaches from a cold, a hangover or caffeine withdrawal can last a day to several days. A headache that lasts three days is most often a tension-type headache, a migraine that has not settled, a viral illness or painkiller overuse. Headaches on 15 or more days a month are called chronic and deserve a GP review. A sudden, severe headache, or one with weakness, confusion, a stiff neck or fever, needs a 999 call.

How long do headaches last by type?

• Tension-type headache: 30 minutes to seven days, most often a few hours. See how to relieve a tension headache.
• Migraine: usually 4 to 72 hours if untreated, often with a day or two of feeling drained afterwards. See our page on migraine.
• Cluster headache: 15 minutes to three hours per attack, up to several times a day, in bouts lasting weeks.
• Caffeine withdrawal headache: starts 12 to 24 hours after your last caffeine and can last two to nine days.
• Hangover headache: usually up to 24 hours.
• Cold, flu and sinus headaches: usually last as long as the infection, often a few days to a week or two.
• Medication overuse headache: present on most days until painkiller use is reduced.
• Headache after a head injury: often settles within days or weeks but can last longer and needs medical advice if it is getting worse.

Why have I had a headache for three days?

• A tension-type headache kept going by stress, poor sleep, neck tension or screen work
• A migraine that has not settled. A migraine attack lasting more than 72 hours needs medical advice
• A viral illness or sinusitis, especially with a blocked nose or temperature
• Caffeine withdrawal after cutting down suddenly
• Painkiller rebound, if you have been taking painkillers every day
• Dehydration, missed meals and poor sleep carrying on from day to day

A headache lasting several days is usually not serious, but it should be checked if it is getting worse, is different from your usual headaches or comes with any of the warning signs below.

Why do I have constant headaches?

• Chronic tension-type headache: tension-type headaches on 15 or more days a month for more than three months
• Chronic migraine: headaches on 15 or more days a month, with migraine features on at least eight of them
• Medication overuse headache: one of the most common causes of daily headache, from taking simple painkillers on 15 or more days a month or codeine-based painkillers or triptans on 10 or more days
• New daily persistent headache: a daily headache that starts suddenly and does not go away, which needs specialist assessment
• Sleep problems, such as sleep apnoea, and teeth grinding at night, which often cause morning headaches
• Neck problems, causing cervicogenic headache
• Rarer causes, such as raised pressure in the head, which can cause headache with visual disturbance, or giant cell arteritis in people over 50

For everyday triggers and how to spot your pattern, see what causes headaches.

How to make a headache go sooner

• Treat it early, as painkillers work best at the start
• Drink water and eat if you have skipped a meal
• Rest in a quiet, dark room for migraine
• Stretch your neck and shoulders and relax your jaw for tension headaches
• Limit painkillers to fewer than 10 to 15 days a month
• If migraines last a long time or come often, ask your GP about migraine-specific and preventive treatment

When to seek medical help

Call 999 if you have:

• A sudden, severe headache that peaks within about five minutes, often described as the worst headache ever
• A headache with weakness, numbness, drooping of the face, slurred speech, confusion or loss of vision
• A headache with fever, a stiff neck and a rash, or a fit
• A headache after a head injury with vomiting, drowsiness or confusion

Get same-day medical advice, from your GP or NHS 111, if:

• A migraine attack has lasted more than 72 hours
• You are over 50 and have a new headache with scalp tenderness or jaw pain when chewing
• You have a headache with a painful red eye and blurred vision
• You are pregnant and have a severe headache with vision problems or sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet

See your GP if:

• You have headaches on most days, or they are getting more frequent
• A headache has lasted more than a few days without improving
• A headache is worse when you cough, strain or lie down, or wakes you from sleep
• You are taking painkillers for headaches on many days each month

Frequently asked questions

Can a headache last a week?

A tension-type headache can last up to seven days. A headache lasting a week or more, or getting steadily worse, should be checked by your GP.

Is it normal to have a headache every day?

It is common but not normal. Daily headaches often have a treatable cause, such as painkiller overuse, poor sleep or chronic tension-type headache.

How long is too long for a headache?

Seek advice for a migraine lasting more than 72 hours, any headache lasting more than a few days without improving, or any headache with warning signs.

Can stress cause a headache for days?

Yes. Ongoing stress can keep a tension-type headache going for days, often through muscle tension and poor sleep.

Headache support in Chiswick

Headaches are assessed and treated at Omnia Lifestyle in Chiswick, W4, close to Turnham Green station, on bus routes 94, E3 and 272. Limited parking is available on request when booking. We take a full headache history, including how long your headaches last and how often you take painkillers, and may combine acupuncture, physiotherapy and manual therapy, keeping your GP involved where medication is part of your care.

Read more about headaches and migraines, see what causes headaches, how to relieve a tension headache and neck pain exercises, explore acupuncture, physiotherapy and manual therapy, or book an appointment.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have any of the warning signs listed above, seek medical attention.