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| A '''headache''' ('''cephalgia''' in medical terminology) is a condition of pain in the [[head]]; sometimes [[neck]] or upper back pain may also be interpreted as a headache. It ranks amongst the most common local pain complaints. | | __NOTOC__ |
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| | '''Editor-In-Chief:''' [[User:Bobby Schwartz|Robert G. Schwartz, M.D.]] [mailto:RGSHEAL@aol.com], [http://www.piedmontpmr.com Piedmont Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, P.A.]; '''Associate Editor-In-Chief''': {{CZ}} |
| | ==Overview== |
| | A '''headache''' is a condition of pain in the [[head]]; sometimes [[neck]] or upper back pain may also be interpreted as a headache. It ranks amongst the most common local pain complaints. |
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| The vast majority of headaches are benign and self-limiting. Common causes are [[tension headache|tension]],[[Neck pain]], [[migraine]], eye strain, [[dehydration|dehydration]], low blood sugar, and [[sinusitis]]. Much rarer are headaches due to life-threatening conditions such as [[meningitis]], [[encephalitis]], [[cerebral aneurysm]]s, [[hypertensive emergency|extremely high blood pressure]], and [[brain tumor]]s. When the headache occurs in conjunction with a [[head injury]] the cause is usually quite evident. A large percentage of headaches among females are caused by ever-fluctuating [[estrogen]] during [[menstruation|menstrual]] years. This can occur prior to, during or even midcycle menstruation.
| | ==References== |
| | | {{reflist|2}} |
| Treatment of uncomplicated headache is usually symptomatic with [[Over-the-counter drug|over-the-counter]] [[analgesic|painkillers]] such as [[aspirin]], [[paracetamol]] (acetaminophen), or [[ibuprofen]], although some specific forms of headaches (e.g., [[migraines]], [[Barre lieou]]) may demand other, more suitable treatment. It may be possible to relate the occurrence of a headache to other particular triggers (such as stress or particular foods), which can then be avoided.
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| == Diagnosis ==
| | [[Category:Headaches]] |
| While, statistically, headaches are most likely to be harmless and self-limiting, some specific headache syndromes may demand specific treatment or may be warning signals of more serious disorders. Some headache subtypes are characterized by a specific pattern of symptoms, and no further testing may be necessary, while others may prompt further diagnostic tests.
| | [[Category:Neurological disorders]] |
| | [[Category:Signs and symptoms]] |
| | [[Category:Neurology]] |
| | [[Category:Emergency medicine]] |
| | [[Category:Primary care]] |
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| Headache associated with specific symptoms may warrant urgent medical attention, particularly sudden, severe headache or sudden headache associated with a stiff neck; headaches associated with [[fever]], [[convulsion]]s or accompanied by confusion or [[loss of consciousness]]; headaches following a blow to the head, or associated with pain in the eye or ear; persistent headache in a person with no previous history of headaches; and recurring headache in children.
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| The most important step in diagnosing a headache is for the physician to take a careful history and to examine the patient. In the majority of cases the diagnosis will be tension headache or migraine, both of which can be managed on the basis of a clear-cut clinical picture. Where doubt remains, or if there are abnormalities detected on examination, further investigations are justified.<ref>Detsky ME, McDonald DR, Baerlocher MO, Tomlinson GA, McCrory DC, Booth CM. Does this patient with headache have a migraine or need neuroimaging? JAMA 2006;296:1274-83</ref> [[Computed tomography]] (CT/CAT) scans of the brain or sinuses are commonly performed, or [[magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI) in specific settings. [[Blood test]]s may help narrow down the [[differential diagnosis]], but are rarely confirmatory of specific headache forms. For mixed headaches (headaches with several components) diagnostic testing that addresses each suspected aspect may be required. Examples include EMG/NCV [http://paincure.homestead.com/electrodiagnosticstudies.html], [[Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasonography]] and [[Thermography]].
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist|2}} | |