What Causes Both Headache and Fatigue?

Migraine is a neurological condition that causes frequent intense headache attacks. Migraine symptoms may begin 1 to 2 days before the headache itself. This is referred to as the “prodrome” stage. During this stage, many people also experience fatigue, depression, and low energy.

When the headache begins, it’s referred to as the “attack” phase. Other symptoms include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• dizziness
• head pain
• sensitivity to light and sound

Once the headache subsides, you might feel fatigued and apathetic. See a doctor if headaches begin to affect your daily life.

Many people get a headache when they don’t drink enough water. Other common symptoms of dehydration include fatigue and sleepiness.

Dehydration headaches often go away within a few hours after drinking water. To prevent headaches and fatigue caused by dehydration, aim for at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day — more if you’re working out or it’s a particularly hot day.

Headaches and fatigue are common side effecte of many medications. Medications such as diuretics and some blood pressure medications may lead to headaches and fatigue because they can make you dehydrated.

Other medications can interfere with your sleep patterns. A lack of sleep is also associated with headaches.

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. Though it can make you feel alert and reduce fatigue right after you drink it, caffeine can also interfere with your sleep if you consume too much. Not getting enough sleep can lead to fatigue and headache.

If you drink caffeinated beverages daily, your body may become dependent on the caffeine. If you eliminate caffeine from your diet, you’ll likely experience withdrawal symptoms, which include headache and fatigue.

The primary symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is severe fatigue that continues for at least 4 months and is not improved by rest. Other symptoms include:

• frequent headaches
• muscle pain
• joint pain
• sleep problems
• trouble concentrating

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder associated with widespread pain and general fatigue. The pain often occurs in tender points, also called trigger points, in many areas of the body.

People with fibromyalgia may also have frequent headaches.

Researchers and doctors do not know what causes fibromyalgia, but more is learned about the condition every day. If you’re experiencing pain, headaches, and fatigue that won’t go away, see a doctor.

Any disorder that affects your sleep can cause headache and fatigue. These include:

• insomnia
• restless leg syndrome
• bruxism (grinding your teeth at night)
• sleep apnea

Sleep disorders are also associated with migraine headaches.

Lack of sleep causes levels of the stress hormone cortisol to rise in the body, which can adversely affect mood. Other symptoms of high cortisol include:

• weight gain
• irritability
• acne
• headache
• fatigue

A concussion is a temporary brain injury and is usually the result of an injury or trauma to the head.

Seek immediate medical attention if you’ve had a head injury and think you could have a concussion. Aside from headache and fatigue, other symptoms of a concussion include:

• unconsciousness
• memory problems
• continual vomiting
• behavioral changes
• confusion
• blurred vision

A hangover results from drinking too much alcohol. Because alcohol has a dehydrating effect on the body, it can cause headaches. Drinking alcohol also causes your blood vessels to widen (vasodilation), which is associated with headaches as well.

Alcohol may also interrupt your sleep, which can leave you feeling drowsy and fatigued the next day.

If you frequently experience headache and fatigue after drinking alcohol, consider these 7 ways to prevent a hangover.

Headache and fatigue are common symptoms of the flu and common cold, both of which are caused by viruses. Most of the time, headache and fatigue are accompanied by other symptoms, such as:

• fever
• runny nose
• sore throat
• cough

Anemia occurs when the number of healthy red blood cells in your body is too low. When this happens, your body’s tissues can’t get enough oxygen.

If you have anemia, you’ll likely feel fatigued and weak. You may also feel dizzy and short of breath and have pale skin and brittle nails.

Headaches are another common symptom of anemia, particularly anemia caused by iron deficiency.

Hormonal changes before and during menstruation can lead to headache and fatigue. Some women experience migraine headaches during menstruation.

Most women have experienced premenstrual syndrome (PMS) right before their period. Common symptoms of PMS include:

• mood swings
• sore breasts
• fatigue
• headache
• food cravings
• changes in sleep patterns

Staring at a computer, tablet, or cellphone screen all day may be necessary for school or work, but it’s stressful on your eyes. As your eyes become fatigued, you might begin to have a headache.

Another symptom of digital eyestrain is general fatigue or tiredness. You may also have difficulty concentrating or problems sleeping, which could cause you to become even more fatigued.

To manage eyestrain, try looking away from your screen every 20 minutes to an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Headache and fatigue are only two of the many symptoms of pregnancy.

Fatigue is a result of high levels of the hormone progesterone. Likewise, headaches can be caused by hormonal changes and changes in blood volume during pregnancy.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease occurs when your immune system attacks your own body.

Symptoms of lupus are varied. Common symptoms include:

• severe fatigue
• headaches
• a “butterfly” rash on the cheeks and nose
• joint pain and swelling
• hair loss
• fingers turning white or blue and tingling when cold (Raynaud’s phenomenon)

See a doctor if you experience headache and fatigue along with any of the above symptoms. A doctor will have to run several tests to make a diagnosis.

Depression can make you feel emotionally and physically drained. It can also affect your sleep, leading to headache and fatigue. Other symptoms include:

• severe sadness
• social withdrawal
• body aches
• appetite changes
• feeling worthless

Depression can be a temporary or long-term challenge. A doctor or mental health professional can help make your symptoms more manageable.

Is fatigue and headache a symptom of COVID-19?

Yes. Headache and fatigue are symptoms of COVID-19. The primary symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, fever, loss of taste or smell, and fatigue. Less frequent symptoms include sore throat, headache, body aches, diarrhea, skin rash, and irritated eyes.

What virus causes extreme fatigue?

Viruses that can cause fatigue include: Mononucleosis, the flu, and COVID-19.

What kind of headaches should I worry about?

Most headaches are not caused by a serious problem or health condition. However, seek medical help if:

• you experience regular, recurring headaches
• a headache that wakes you from sleep
• persistent, unrelenting pain that lasts for at least 24 hours

You should also seek urgent medical care if you experience:

• a severe or sharp headache for the first time
• a stiff neck and fever
• numbness or droopiness on one side of your face
• slurred or garbled speech
• nausea and vomiting
• fainting or seizures
• confusion or difficulty understanding speech
• vision changes

Anyone who experiences unexplained headaches and fatigue should see a doctor. While some of the causes of these symptoms, like caffeine withdrawals and the common cold, will go away on their own, others require long-term management.

If medications are the reason for your headache and fatigue, your doctor may want to switch you to a different medication or lower your dose.

You’ll also want to visit a doctor right away if your headache is sudden and severe or accompanies a:

• fever
• stiff neck
• confusion
• vomiting
• behavioral changes
• vision changes
• numbness
• difficulty speaking