Headache with a cold in adults
Stuffy nose and flowing from there, sore throat, cough – hello, cold. Often, intoxication of the body is also manifested by a headache. Together with expert Arina Zhegalina, we discussed why a headache occurs with a cold and how to treat it

A cold can be caused by different viruses, so the symptoms can be very different, and a headache is an optional, but quite common symptom. With influenza, the patient most often complains of pain in the frontal region and temples, in the eyeballs.1. With SARS caused by the RS virus, adenovirus infection or parainfluenza, headache is also common, but not so severe2. With acute respiratory infections provoked by rhinovirus, headache, as a rule, does not bother.

Causes of a headache with a cold in adults

Experts divide headache into primary and secondary.

Primary occurs on its own, it accounts for 90% of all headaches. This includes tension headaches and migraines. Migraine is usually inherited. Tension headache occurs under the influence of stress factors, overwork, constant tension of the neck muscles. But osteochondrosis or “pinching of the vessels of the neck” will never be the cause of the primary headache.

Secondary is a consequence and a symptom of a disease. For example, such pain may be associated with an infectious process or occur against the background of the start or withdrawal of drugs (analgesics, as a rule), or associated with lesions of the ENT organs. Secondary headache also occurs after a concussion and very rarely – as a manifestation of a growing tumor in the head.

As for the headache with a cold, it is caused by toxins released by viruses. These waste products of viruses irritate the pain receptors of the brain, and a person gets discomfort in the forehead or temples. Plus, a runny nose and nasal congestion aggravate this condition: nasal breathing is difficult, the brain lacks oxygen, and this only increases the headache.

How long does a headache with a cold last in adults

Signs of general intoxication of the body with acute respiratory viral infections, which usually include headache, are most pronounced in the first 2-4 days from the onset of the disease3. And the symptoms usually disappear completely by 7-10 days.

Headache with a cold in adults usually does not last long, so if the discomfort continues to torment you for more than 4-5 days, and the intensity of the pain increases, in addition, uncontrollable vomiting joins, you should consult a doctor about this.

How to treat a headache with a cold

The main principle of ARVI treatment is timeliness. But this does not mean that as soon as a stuffy nose and a sore throat appear, you need to take serious drugs, and even more so antibiotics. Treatment should be prescribed only by a specialist, so you should not delay visiting a doctor until it gets worse.

When signs of SARS appear, we are treated symptomatically at home – we remove the temperature if it is above 38 degrees, we wash our nose, gargle, or use anesthetic lozenges and spray. It is imperative to establish an optimal microclimate at home: the temperature in the room should be 18-22 degrees, it is advisable to carry out wet cleaning several times a day or turn on a humidifier, it is also necessary to ventilate the room.

At the moment, there is no effective antiviral drug, except for influenza drugs. Antibiotics for SARS are usually generally useless3.

There are many ways to get rid of a painful headache.

Pills

For a headache with a cold, you can use medicines in tablets. The most commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – for example, Ibuprofen and medicines based on it (Nurofen, for example)4. NSAIDs have not only an antipyretic effect, but also an analgesic effect. In addition, you can use Paracetamol (and preparations based on it), which is not classified as an NSAID, but is an antipyretic analgesic, in other words, does not relieve inflammation, but effectively fights pain and fever4. Do not forget to read the instructions and do not exceed the maximum daily dosage.

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Compresses

A regular wet compress will help relieve a headache – especially if you prefer not to be treated at the same time with a large number of medicines. It is optimal that the room where you are is quiet, fresh and not too light. However, there is an important point: a wet compress can be used if there is no high temperature.

By the way, sleep and plenty of drinking are free, but very effective means.

Antiviral drugs

For the treatment of influenza and SARS, drugs such as Oseltamivir, Zanamivir, Viferon, Grippferon, Ingavirin are used. They help shorten the duration of illness in uncomplicated cases and reduce the risk of complications requiring antimicrobial therapy and hospitalization. True, they reduce headaches weakly, and are more aimed at general improvement of well-being.5.

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Combined analgesics

In fact, various “pops” and instant powders are a pleasant-tasting and more expensive form of paracetamol or ibuprofen. It is these components that are the main active ingredients in the composition of various powders. That is, it’s a matter of taste: you can choose budget Paracetamol, or you can choose a delicious powder to dissolve in water and drink. In addition, these powders contain vasoconstrictor components that reduce nasal congestion. And this, in turn, helps to reduce headaches.

However, such powders and pops can increase blood pressure, cause nausea, allergic reactions, and other unpleasant side effects. Therefore, before buying this or that remedy, it is advisable to get advice from a doctor and not exceed daily dosages.

Popular questions and answers

The common cold, with all its unpleasant and painful symptoms, often raises many questions. Why does my head hurt and won’t go away? How can you help yourself quickly? Answers the most popular questions general practitioner, cardiologist Arina Zhegalina.

Why doesn’t a headache go away with a cold?

– Because the virus actively multiplies in the body and releases toxins, which, in turn, affect pain receptors. As you recover, the headache will go away, but if there is no desire to endure, paracetamol or ibuprofen (or preparations based on them) will come to the rescue.

Why can the left or right side of the head hurt with a cold?

– It depends solely on the individual characteristics and sensitivity of the person.

What can you drink to quickly relieve a headache with a cold?

– An antipyretic drug that also has an analgesic effect. Necessarily under the recommendation of the doctor after internal consultation.

Sources:

  1. Acute respiratory viral diseases: modern approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Derbeneva M.L., Guseva A.L. Medical Council, 2019. No. 20. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/ostrye-respiratornye-virusnye-zabolevaniya-sovremennye-podhody-k-diagnostike-i-lecheniyu
  2. Modern principles of diagnosis and treatment of SARS. Kupchenko A.N., Ponezheva Zh.B. Archive of internal medicine. No. 1 (27), 2016. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/sovremennye-printsipy-diagnostiki-i-lecheniya-orvi
  3. Anti-inflammatory effects of fenspiride: crucial in the choice of therapy for acute respiratory diseases. Berdnikova N.G., Maltseva N.A., Demidova G.V., Klimova O.Yu. Consilium Medicum. Volume 19. No. 3. 2017
  4. Инфекционные заболевания. Змушко Е.И., Шпулава Е.П., Беляева Т.В. 2015. С. 736 https://library.sammi.uz/Library/Rus%20tilidagi%20adabiyotlar/%D0%98%D0%BD%D1%84%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5%20%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B8/%D1%88%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%20%2C%D0%B7%D0%BC%D1%83%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%BE.pdf
  5. Symptomatic therapy for acute respiratory viral infections. Prokhorovich E.A. Medical Bulletin. No. 36. 2011. https://medi.ru/info/12014/

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