What to Do About a Headache That Won't Go Away

Before reaching for another painkiller, check the basics: have you had enough water today, when did you last eat, and how many hours have you spent looking at a screen without a break? Dehydration, hunger, poor sleep, and eye strain cause a huge share of everyday headaches.

Drink a full glass of water, step away from screens for ten minutes, and eat something if it's been hours. If a headache is sudden and severe, comes with vision changes or confusion, or keeps returning for more than a few days, that is worth a real medical conversation, not another tablet.