Headaches & Migraines: What’s Going on Inside Your Head?

Headaches are one of those universal experiences we all share. They’re annoying, persistent, and they always seem to appear at the exact moment you finally sit down with a cup of tea. Migraines, however, are a different breed entirely. They don’t just arrive quietly — they make an entrance. They dim the lights, demand silence, and proceed to ruin your entire day with the confidence of someone who knows they’re in charge.

The truth is, headaches and migraines are incredibly common and understanding them can make a huge difference to how we manage them. In the UK alone, around 10 million people experience regular headaches. Tension headaches are the most common, affecting up to 78% of adults, and if you’ve ever blamed stress for yours, you’re in good company — around 40% of people do exactly the same. Migraines affect over 6 million people, most commonly between the ages of 20 and 50, otherwise known as the “trying to hold life together” years. Women are three times more likely to experience migraines than men, largely thanks to hormones, and around 1 in 4 people experience aura symptoms like flashing lights or zig‑zag lines. So, if you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “just you,” it absolutely isn’t.

Headaches and migraines can be triggered by all sorts of things: stress, dehydration, hormones, bright lights, skipped meals, lack of sleep, certain foods (usually the ones you enjoy most), screen time, weather changes, and sometimes absolutely nothing at all — because why wouldn’t your brain choose chaos on a random Tuesday?

Managing them often comes down to simple steps. For headaches, water is your best friend; your brain loves hydration more than you love coffee. Rest helps, stretching your neck and shoulders helps, eating something helps, and paracetamol or ibuprofen can make a big difference. Migraines usually need a darker room, a cold compress, triptans, anti‑sickness medication, avoiding known triggers, and sometimes keeping a migraine diary (yes, it really does help).

Of course, there are times when headaches and migraines need checking. A sudden, severe “thunderclap” headache, headaches with fever or neck stiffness, headaches after a head injury, headaches with confusion or weakness, headaches that are becoming more frequent, or migraines that stop you living your normal life, these are all reasons to seek help. If something feels “off,” it’s always better to get it looked at.

The good news is you don’t have to deal with any of this alone. At the Southend Coastal Health Fair, you can come and chat with one of our GPs who specialises in headaches and migraines. Whether you’re dealing with occasional headaches or regular migraines that knock you sideways, we’re here to help you understand what’s going on inside your head and how to manage it better.

The Health Fair is taking place on Wednesday 12th August, from 10am to 3.30pm, at Shoebury & Thorpe Bay Baptist Church. Alongside headache and migraine support, you’ll find stalls covering Respiratory Health (Asthma and COPD), Southend East PCN, our amazing pharmacy team, blood pressure checks, Southend Lifeboats, Everyone Health, and plenty more. You can also learn hands‑only CPR, practise on a manikin, and walk away knowing you could save someone’s life — which is a pretty incredible skill to pick up on a Wednesday.

For more information, visit www.southendcoastalsurgeries.co.uk/scsevent, or if you enjoy blogs like this and want more useful health content, you can follow along at http://behindtheclinicdoor.business.blog/.