[vixen99]

Especially if a new one, pain is undoubtedly a 'warning signal from the body' which is a succinct metaphor we all understand and has a clear meaning. If you don't know why or from whence the pain, check it out. It may be one of those things or perhaps not.

[lapcat]

The previous commenter appears to argue that you need to diagnose every headache, which sounds absurd to me.

Occasionally I have a headache. Not frequently, and I don't necessarily know why. These things just happen. I take a painkiller, and problem solved. I've been seen by doctors over the years for physicals or other reasons, and there's no indication of any underlying medical condition. An occasional headache is not an indicator of something more serious, and the painkiller is not "masking" a larger problem.

The same goes for random muscle aches. They're infrequent, but they can happen, for whatever reason, and there's no reason to panic or to suffer when you can just make them go away.

I don't think I'm unusual here. As far as I've heard, random, infrequent headaches or other aches are extremely common.

Moreover, there are pains that we know the cause: for example, I experience a bump or a cut. My body continues to annoy me with pain unnecessarily. Yes, I'm healing, I'm well aware of that. I just need my body to STFU with the pain and stop reminding me of it.

[marcosdumay]

Unless you have migraines, that headache is caused by something and you'll be much better taking an anti-allergic, or a sinus cleaner, or whatever else actually solves the underlying issue or make the specific symptom go away.

The same goes for muscle aches. There is also specific medicine for them. And you are probably better with an anti-inflammatory for a bump. (It's not normal for cuts to hurt for a long time.)

[lapcat]

> that headache is caused by something

Thanks for the diagnosis, Dr. Internet Rando.

> you'll be much better taking an anti-allergic, or a sinus cleaner, or whatever else actually solves the underlying issue or make the specific symptom go away.

You can't even say what I should take. X or Y or... whatever else? That's not helpful at all.

[marcosdumay]

If you don't know what causes a random headache, that's a good reason to ask a doctor.

[agos]

if you go to any doctor of any specialization in any point of the world and tell them "doctor, once every three months I get an headache" I guarantee that the answer will be "does it go away with an ibuprofen/paracetamol?"

[lapcat]

> If you don't know what causes a random headache

Maybe HN commenters.

[bluecheese452]

Thank you, I share this sentiment but couldn’t quite put it into words. Sometimes it isn’t that deep.

[cleansingfire]

Yup. Try to treat the source of the pain. Of course. But dont act morally superior because you don't need acetaminophen.