Headache

A headache, also known as cephalalgia, is the symptom of pain in the face, head, or neck. It can occur as a migraine, tension-type headache, or cluster headache.[1][2] There is an increased risk of depression in those with severe headaches.[3]

Headaches can occur as a result of many conditions. There are a number of different classification systems for headaches. The most well-recognized is that of the International Headache Society, which classifies it into more than 150 types of primary and secondary headaches. Causes of headaches may include dehydration; fatigue; sleep deprivation; stress;[4] the effects of medications (overuse) and recreational drugs, including withdrawal; viral infections; loud noises; head injury; rapid ingestion of a very cold food or beverage; and dental or sinus issues (such as sinusitis).[5]

Treatment of a headache depends on the underlying cause, but commonly involves analgesic (pain medication), especially in case of migraine or cluster headaches.[6] A headache is one of the most commonly experienced of all physical discomforts.[7]

About half of adults have a headache in a given year.[3] Tension headaches are the most common,[7] affecting about 1.6 billion people (21.8% of the population) followed by migraine headaches which affect about 848 million (11.7%).[8]

## Contents

* 1 Causes
* 1.1 Primary
* 1.2 Secondary
* 2 Pathophysiology
* 3 Diagnosis
* 3.1 Red flags
* 3.2 Old headaches
* 3.3 New headaches
* 3.4 Neuroimaging
* 3.4.1 Old headaches
* 3.4.2 New headaches
* 3.4.3 Lumbar puncture
* 3.5 Classification
* 3.5.1 ICHD-2
* 3.5.2 NIH
* 4 Management
* 4.1 Secondary headaches (caused by another disease)
* 4.2 Migraines
* 4.3 Tension-type headaches
* 4.4 Cluster headaches
* 4.5 Neuromodulation
* 5 Epidemiology
* 6 History
* 7 Children
* 7.1 Cardiac Cephalgia in Heart Attack
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 External links

## Causes

There are more than 200 types of headaches. Some are harmless and some are life-threatening. The description of the headache and findings on neurological examination, determine whether additional tests are needed and what treatment is best.[9]

Headaches are broadly classified as "primary" or "secondary".[10] Primary headaches are benign, recurrent headaches not caused by underlying disease or structural problems. For example, migraine is a type of primary headache. While primary headaches may cause significant daily pain and disability, they are not dangerous from a physiological point of view. Secondary headaches are caused by an underlying disease, like an infection, head injury, vascular disorders, brain bleed, stomach irritation, or brain tumor. Secondary headaches can be dangerous. Certain "red flags" or warning signs indicate a secondary headache may be dangerous.[11]

### Primary

Ninety percent of all headaches are primary headaches.[12] Primary headaches usually first start when people are between 20 and 40 years old.[13][14] The most common types of primary headaches are migraines and tension-type headaches.[14] They have different characteristics. Migraines typically present with pulsing head pain, nausea, photophobia (sensitivity to light) and phonophobia (sensitivity to sound).[15] Tension-type headaches usually present with non-pulsing "bandlike" pressure on both sides of the head, not accompanied by other symptoms.[16][17] Such kind of headaches may be further classified into-episodic and chronic tension type headaches[18] Other very rare types of primary headaches include:[11]

* cluster headaches: short episodes (15–180 minutes) of severe pain, usually around one eye, with autonomic symptoms (tearing, red eye, nasal congestion) which occur at the same time every day. Cluster headaches can be treated with triptans and prevented with prednisone, ergotamine or lithium.
* trigeminal neuralgia or occipital neuralgia: shooting face pain
* hemicrania continua: continuous unilateral pain with episodes of severe pain. Hemicrania continua can be relieved by the medication indomethacin.
* primary stabbing headache: recurrent episodes of stabbing "ice pick pain" or "jabs and jolts" for 1 second to several minutes without autonomic symptoms (tearing, red eye, nasal congestion). These headaches can be treated with indomethacin.
* primary cough headache: starts suddenly and lasts for several minutes after coughing, sneezing or straining (anything that may increase pressure in the head). Serious causes (see secondary headaches red flag section) must be ruled out before a diagnosis of "benign" primary cough headache can be made.
* primary exertional headache: throbbing, pulsatile pain which starts during or after exercising, lasting for 5 minutes to 24 hours. The mechanism behind these headaches is unclear, possibly due to straining causing veins in the head to dilate, causing pain. These headaches can be prevented by not exercising too strenuously and can be treated with medications such as indomethacin.
* primary sex headache: dull, bilateral headache that starts during sexual activity and becomes much worse during orgasm. These headaches are thought to be due to lower pressure in the head during sex. It is important to realize that headaches that begin during orgasm may be due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage, so serious causes must be ruled out first. These headaches are treated by advising the person to stop sex if they develop a headache. Medications such as propranolol and diltiazem can also be helpful.
* hypnic headache: a moderate-severe headache that starts a few hours after falling asleep and lasts 15–30 minutes. The headache may recur several times during the night. Hypnic headaches are usually in older women. They may be treated with lithium.

### Secondary

Headaches may be caused by problems elsewhere in the head or neck. Some of these are not harmful, such as cervicogenic headache (pain arising from the neck muscles). The excessive use of painkillers can paradoxically cause worsening painkiller headaches.[9][19]

More serious causes of secondary headaches include the following:[11]

* meningitis: inflammation of the meninges which presents with fever and meningismus, or stiff neck
* ischemic stroke or a previous stage of the same
* hemorragic stroke or a previous stage of the same
* intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding inside the brain) because of any origin
* subarachnoid hemorrhage (with acute, severe headache, stiff neck without fever) because of any origin
* intraparenchymal hemorrhage (with headache only) because of any origin
* ruptured aneurysm or aneurysm
* brain tumor (a form of cancer): dull headache, worse with exertion and change in position, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Often, the person will have nausea and vomiting for weeks before the headache starts.
* temporal arteritis: inflammatory disease of arteries common in the elderly (average age 70) with fever, headache, weight loss, jaw claudication, tender vessels by the temples, polymyalgia rheumatica
* acute closed-angle glaucoma (increased pressure in the eyeball): a headache that starts with eye pain, blurry vision, associated with nausea and vomiting. On physical exam, the person will have red eyes and a fixed, mid-dilated pupil.
* arteriovenous malformation
* post-ictal headaches: Headaches that happen after a convulsion or other type of seizure, as part of the period after the seizure (the post-ictal state)
* traumatic brain injury

Gastrointestinal disorders may cause headaches, including Helicobacter pylori infection, celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, gastroparesis, and hepatobiliary disorders.[20][21][22] The treatment of the gastrointestinal disorders may lead to a remission or improvement of headaches.[22]

Migraine headaches are also associated with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS). CVS is characterized by episodes of severe vomiting, and often occur alongside symptoms similar to those of migraine headaches (photophobia, abdominal pain, etc.).[23]

## Pathophysiology

The brain itself is not sensitive to pain, because it lacks pain receptors. However, several areas of the head and neck do have pain receptors and can thus sense pain. These include the extracranial arteries, middle meningeal artery, large veins, venous sinuses, cranial and spinal nerves, head and neck muscles, the meninges, falx cerebri, parts of the brainstem, eyes, ears, teeth, and lining of the mouth.[24][25] Pial arteries, rather than pial veins are responsible for pain production.[11]

Headaches often result from traction or irritation of the meninges and blood vessels.[26] The pain receptors may be stimulated by head trauma or tumours and cause headaches. Blood vessel spasms, dilated blood vessels, inflammation or infection of meninges and muscular tension can also stimulate pain receptors.[25] Once stimulated, a nociceptor sends a message up the length of the nerve fibre to the nerve cells in the brain, signalling that a part of the body hurts.[27]

Primary headaches are more difficult to understand than secondary headaches. The exact mechanisms which cause migraines, tension headaches and cluster headaches are not known.[28] There have been different hypotheses over time that attempt to explain what happens in the brain to cause these headaches.[29]

Migraines are currently thought to be caused by dysfunction of the nerves in the brain.[30] Previously, migraines were thought to be caused by a primary problem with the blood vessels in the brain.[31] This vascular theory, which was developed in the 20th century by Wolff, suggested that the aura in migraines is caused by constriction of intracranial vessels (vessels inside the brain), and the headache itself is caused by rebound dilation of extracranial vessels (vessels just outside the brain). Dilation of these extracranial blood vessels activates the pain receptors in the surrounding nerves, causing a headache. The vascular theory is no longer accepted.[30][32] Studies have shown migraine head pain is not accompanied by extracranial vasodilation, but rather only has some mild intracranial vasodilation.[33]

Currently, most specialists think migraines are due to a primary problem with the nerves in the brain.[30] Auras are thought to be caused by a wave of increased activity of neurons in the cerebral cortex (a part of the brain) known as cortical spreading depression[34] followed by a period of depressed activity.[35] Some people think headaches are caused by the activation of sensory nerves which release peptides or serotonin, causing inflammation in arteries, dura and meninges and also cause some vasodilation. Triptans, medications that treat migraines, block serotonin receptors and constrict blood vessels.[36]

People who are more susceptible to experiencing migraines without headaches are those who have a family history of migraines, women, and women who are experiencing hormonal changes or are taking birth control pills or are prescribed hormone replacement therapy.[37]

Tension headaches are thought to be caused by the activation of peripheral nerves in the head and neck muscles.[38]

Cluster headaches involve overactivation of the trigeminal nerve and hypothalamus in the brain, but the exact cause is unknown.[28][39]

## Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis of headaches  Tension headache  | New daily persistent headache | Cluster headache | Migraine

|
|
|

mild to moderate dull or aching pain |  | severe pain | moderate to severe pain
duration of 30 minutes to several hours  | duration of at least four hours daily  | duration of 30 minutes to 3 hours  | duration of 4 hours to 3 days
| Occur in periods of 15 days a month for three months  | may happen multiple times in a day for months  | periodic occurrence; several per month to several per year
located as tightness or pressure across head  | located on one or both sides of the head  | located one side of head focused at eye or temple | located on one or both sides of head
| consistent pain  | pain describable as sharp or stabbing  | pulsating or throbbing pain
no nausea or vomiting  |  |  | nausea, perhaps with vomiting
no aura | no aura  |  | auras
uncommonly, light sensitivity or noise sensitivity  |  | may be accompanied by running nose, tears, and drooping eyelid, often only on one side  | sensitivity to movement, light, and noise
| exacerbated by regular use of acetaminophen or NSAIDS  |  | may exist with tension headache[40]

Most headaches can be diagnosed by the clinical history alone.[11] If the symptoms described by the person sound dangerous, further testing with neuroimaging or lumbar puncture may be necessary. Electroencephalography (EEG) is not useful for headache diagnosis.[41]

### Red flags

It can be challenging to differentiate between low-risk, benign headaches and high-risk, dangerous headaches since symptoms are often similar.[42] Headaches that are possibly dangerous require further lab tests and imaging to diagnose.[14]

The American College for Emergency Physicians published criteria for low-risk headaches. They are as follows:[43]

* age younger than 30 years
* features typical of primary headache
* history of similar headache
* no abnormal findings on neurologic exam
* no concerning change in normal headache pattern
* no high-risk comorbid conditions (for example, HIV)
* no new concerning history or physical examination findings

A number of characteristics make it more likely that the headache is due to potentially dangerous secondary causes which may be life-threatening or cause long-term damage. These "red flag" symptoms mean that a headache warrants further investigation with neuroimaging and lab tests.[14]

In general, people complaining of their "first" or "worst" headache warrant imaging and further workup.[14] People with progressively worsening headache also warrant imaging, as they may have a mass or a bleed that is gradually growing, pressing on surrounding structures and causing worsening pain.[42] People with neurological findings on exam, such as weakness, also need further workup.[42]

The American Headache Society recommends using "SSNOOP", a mnemonic to remember the red flags for identifying a secondary headache:[44]

* Systemic symptoms (fever or weight loss)
* Systemic disease (HIV infection, malignancy)
* Neurologic symptoms or signs
* Onset sudden (thunderclap headache)
* Onset after age 40 years
* Previous headache history (first, worst, or different headache)

Other red flag symptoms include:[14][44][42][45]

Red Flag | Possible causes | The reason why a red flag indicates possible causes | Diagnostic tests

|
|
|

New headache after age 50 | Temporal arteritis, mass in brain | Temporal arteritis is an inflammation of vessels close to the temples in older people, which decreases blood flow to the brain and causes pain. May also have tenderness in temples or jaw claudication. Some brain cancers are more common in older people. | Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (diagnostic test for temporal arteritis), neuroimaging
Very sudden onset headache (thunderclap headache) | Brain bleed (subarachnoid hemorrhage, hemorrhage into mass lesion, vascular malformation), pituitary apoplexy, mass (especially in posterior fossa) | A bleed in the brain irritates the meninges which causes pain. Pituitary apoplexy (bleeding or impaired blood supply to the pituitary gland at the base of the brain) is often accompanied by double vision or visual field defects, since the pituitary gland is right next to the optic chiasm (eye nerves). | Neuroimaging, lumbar puncture if computed tomography is negative
Headaches increasing in frequency and severity | Mass, subdural hematoma, medication overuse | As a brain mass gets larger, or a subdural hematoma (blood outside the vessels underneath the dura) it pushes more on surrounding structures causing pain. Medication overuse headaches worsen with more medication taken over time. | Neuroimaging, drug screen
New onset headache in a person with possible HIV or cancer | Meningitis (chronic or carcinomatous), brain abscess including toxoplasmosis, metastasis | People with HIV or cancer are immunosuppressed so are likely to get infections of the meninges or infections in the brain causing abscesses. Cancer can metastasize, or travel through the blood or lymph to other sites in the body. | Neuroimaging, lumbar puncture if neuroimaging is negative
Headache with signs of total body illness (fever, stiff neck, rash) | Meningitis, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain tissue), Lyme disease, collagen vascular disease | A stiff neck, or inability to flex the neck due to pain, indicates inflammation of the meninges. Other signs of systemic illness indicates infection. | Neuroimaging, lumbar puncture, serology (diagnostic blood tests for infections)
Papilledema | Brain mass, benign intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri), meningitis | Increased intracranial pressure pushes on the eyes (from inside the brain) and causes papilledema. | Neuroimaging, lumbar puncture
Severe headache following head trauma | Brain bleeds (intracranial hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma), post-traumatic headache | Trauma can cause bleeding in the brain or shake the nerves, causing a post-traumatic headache | Neuroimaging of brain, skull, and possibly cervical spine
Inability to move a limb | Arteriovenous malformation, collagen vascular disease, intracranial mass lesion | Focal neurological signs indicate something is pushing against nerves in the brain responsible for one part of the body | Neuroimaging, blood tests for collagen vascular diseases
Change in personality, consciousness, or mental status | Central nervous system infection, intracranial bleed, mass | Change in mental status indicates a global infection or inflammation of the brain, or a large bleed compressing the brainstem where the consciousness centers lie | Blood tests, lumbar puncture, neuroimaging
Headache triggered by cough, exertion or while engaged in sexual intercourse | Mass lesion, subarachnoid hemorrhage | Coughing and exertion increases the intra cranial pressure, which may cause a vessel to burst, causing a subarachnoid hemorrhage. A mass lesion already increases intracranial pressure, so an additional increase in intracranial pressure from coughing etc. will cause pain. | Neuroimaging, lumbar puncture

### Old headaches

Old headaches are usually primary headaches and are not dangerous. They are most often caused by migraines or tension headaches. Migraines are often unilateral, pulsing headaches accompanied by nausea or vomiting. There may be an aura (visual symptoms, numbness or tingling) 30–60 minutes before the headache, warning the person of a headache. Migraines may also not have auras.[45] Tension-type headaches usually have bilateral "bandlike" pressure on both sides of the head usually without nausea or vomiting. However, some symptoms from both headache groups may overlap. It is important to distinguish between the two because the treatments are different.[45]

The mnemonic 'POUND' helps distinguish between migraines and tension-type headaches. POUND stands for:

* Pulsatile quality of headache
* One-day duration (four to 72 hours)
* Unilateral location
* Nausea or vomiting
* Disabling intensity[46]

One review article found that if 4–5 of the POUND characteristics are present, a migraine is 24 times as likely a diagnosis than a tension-type headache (likelihood ratio 24). If 3 characteristics of POUND are present, migraine is 3 times more likely a diagnosis than tension type headache (likelihood ratio 3).[17] If only 2 POUND characteristics are present, tension-type headaches are 60% more likely (likelihood ratio 0.41). Another study found the following factors independently each increase the chance of migraine over tension-type headache: nausea, photophobia, phonophobia, exacerbation by physical activity, unilateral, throbbing quality, chocolate as a headache trigger, and cheese as a headache trigger.[47]

Cluster headaches are relatively rare (1 in 1000 people) and are more common in men than women.[48] They present with sudden onset explosive pain around one eye and are accompanied by autonomic symptoms (tearing, runny nose and red eye).[11]

Temporomandibular jaw pain (chronic pain in the jaw joint), and cervicogenic headache (headache caused by pain in muscles of the neck) are also possible diagnoses.[44]

For chronic, unexplained headaches, keeping a headache diary can be useful for tracking symptoms and identifying triggers, such as association with menstrual cycle, exercise and food. While mobile electronic diaries for smartphones are becoming increasingly common, a recent review found most are developed with a lack of evidence base and scientific expertise.[49]

Cephalalgiaphobia is fear of headaches or getting a headache.

### New headaches

New headaches are more likely to be dangerous secondary headaches. They can, however, simply be the first presentation of a chronic headache syndrome, like migraine or a tension headache.

One recommended diagnostic approach is as follows.[50] If any urgent red flags are present such as visual impairment, new seizures, new weakness, or new confusion, further workup with imaging and possibly a lumbar puncture should be done (see red flags section for more details). If the headache is sudden onset (thunderclap headache), a computed tomography scan (CT scan) to look for a brain bleed (subarachnoid hemorrhage) should be done. If the CT scan does not show a bleed, a lumbar puncture should be done to look for blood in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as the CT scan can be falsely negative and subarachnoid hemorrhages can be fatal. If there are signs of infection such as fever, rash, or stiff neck, a lumbar puncture to look for meningitis should be considered. In an older person, if there is jaw claudication and scalp tenderness, a temporal artery biopsy should be performed to look for temporal arteritis, immediate treatment should be started, if results of the biopsy are positive.

### Neuroimaging

#### Old headaches

The US Headache Consortium has guidelines for neuroimaging of non-acute headaches.[51] Most old, chronic headaches do not require neuroimaging. If a person has the characteristic symptoms of a migraine, neuroimaging is not needed as it is very unlikely the person has an intracranial abnormality.[52] If the person has neurological findings, such as weakness, on exam, neuroimaging may be considered.

#### New headaches

All people who present with red flags indicating a dangerous secondary headache should receive neuroimaging.[45] The best form of neuroimaging for these headaches is controversial.[14] Non-contrast computerized tomography (CT) scan is usually the first step in head imaging as it is readily available in Emergency Departments and hospitals and is cheaper than MRI. Non-contrast CT is best for identifying an acute head bleed. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is best for brain tumors and problems in the posterior fossa, or back of the brain.[14] MRI is more sensitive for identifying intracranial problems, however it can pick up brain abnormalities that are not relevant to the person's headaches.[14]

The American College of Radiology recommends the following imaging tests for different specific situations:[53]

Clinical Features | Recommended neuroimaging test

|

Headache in immunocompromised people (cancer, HIV) | MRI of head with or without contrast
Headache in people older than 60 with suspected temporal arteritis | MRI of head with or without contrast
Headache with suspected meningitis | CT or MRI without contrast
Severe headache in pregnancy | CT or MRI without contrast
Severe unilateral headache caused by possible dissection of carotid or arterial arteries | MRI of head with or without contrast, magnetic resonance angiography or Computed Tomography Angiography of head and neck.
Sudden onset headache or worst headache of life | CT of head without contrast, Computed Tomography Angiography of head and neck with contrast, magnetic resonance angiography of head and neck with and without contrast, MRI of head without contrast

#### Lumbar puncture

A lumbar puncture is a procedure in which cerebral spinal fluid is removed from the spine with a needle. A lumbar puncture is necessary to look for infection or blood in the spinal fluid. A lumbar puncture can also evaluate the pressure in the spinal column, which can be useful for people with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (usually young, obese women who have increased intracranial pressure), or other causes of increased intracranial pressure. In most cases, a CT scan should be done first.[11]

### Classification

Headaches are most thoroughly classified by the International Headache Society's International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD), which published the second edition in 2004.[54] The third edition of the International Headache Classification was published in 2013 in a beta version ahead of the final version.[55] This classification is accepted by the WHO.[56]

Other classification systems exist. One of the first published attempts was in 1951.[57] The US National Institutes of Health developed a classification system in 1962.[58]

#### ICHD-2

The International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) is an in-depth hierarchical classification of headaches published by the International Headache Society. It contains explicit (operational) diagnostic criteria for headache disorders. The first version of the classification, ICHD-1, was published in 1988. The current revision, ICHD-2, was published in 2004.[59] The classification uses numeric codes. The top, one-digit diagnostic level includes 14 headache groups. The first four of these are classified as primary headaches, groups 5-12 as secondary headaches, cranial neuralgia, central and primary facial pain and other headaches for the last two groups.[60]

The ICHD-2 classification defines migraines, tension-types headaches, cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic headache as the main types of primary headaches.[54] Also, according to the same classification, stabbing headaches and headaches due to cough, exertion and sexual activity (sexual headache) are classified as primary headaches. The daily-persistent headaches along with the hypnic headache and thunderclap headaches are considered primary headaches as well.[61][62]

Although the ICHD-2 is the most complete headache classification there is and it includes frequency in the diagnostic criteria of some types of headaches (primarily primary headaches), it does not specifically code frequency or severity which are left at the discretion of the examiner.[54]

#### NIH

The NIH classification consists of brief definitions of a limited number of headaches.[63]

The NIH system of classification is more succinct and only describes five categories of headaches. In this case, primary headaches are those that do not show organic or structural causes. According to this classification, primary headaches can only be vascular, myogenic, cervicogenic, traction, and inflammatory.[64]

## Management

An old advertisement for a headache medicine

See also: Medicine:Management of chronic headaches

Primary headache syndromes have many different possible treatments. In those with chronic headaches the long term use of opioids appears to result in greater harm than benefit.[65]

### Secondary headaches (caused by another disease)

Treatment of secondary headaches involves treating their underlying cause. For example, a person with meningitis will require antibiotics, and a person with a brain tumor may require surgery, chemotherapy or brain radiation. The possible origins of a headache have been studied and classified.

### Migraines

Preventive medications are generally recommended when people have more than four attacks of migraine per month, headaches last longer than 12 hours or the headaches are very disabling.[11][66] Possible therapies include beta blockers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and NSAIDs.[66] The type of preventive medicine is usually chosen based on the other symptoms the person has. For example, if the person also has depression, an antidepressant is a good choice. Rescue (also known as abortive) treatment for migraines may be oral or sublingual (under the tongue) if the migraine is mild to moderate; if more severe, intravenous, rectal, or intramuscular administration may be needed. Mild to moderate headaches should first be treated with acetaminophen (paracetamol) or NSAIDs, like ibuprofen. If accompanied by nausea or vomiting, an antiemetic such as metoclopramide (Reglan) can be given orally or rectally. Moderate to severe attacks should be treated first with an oral triptan, a medication that mimics serotonin (an agonist) and causes mild vasoconstriction. If accompanied by nausea and vomiting, parenteral (through a needle in the skin) triptans and antiemetics can be given.[67]

Sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPG block, also known nasal ganglion block or pterygopalatine ganglion blocks) can abort and prevent migraines, tension headaches and cluster headaches. It was originally described by American ENT surgeon Greenfield Sluder in 1908. Both blocks and neurostimulation have been studied as treatment for headaches.[68]

Several complementary and alternative strategies can help with migraines. The American Academy of Neurology guidelines for migraine treatment in 2000 stated relaxation training, electromyographic feedback and cognitive behavioral therapy may be considered for migraine treatment, along with medications.[69]

### Tension-type headaches

Tension-type headaches can usually be managed with NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen and aspirin) an/or acetaminophen.[11] Triptans are not helpful in tension-type headaches unless the person also has migraines. For chronic tension type headaches, amitriptyline is the only medication proven to help.[11][70][71] Amitriptyline is a medication which treats depression and also independently treats pain. It works by blocking the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, and also reduces muscle tenderness by a separate mechanism.[70] Studies evaluating acupuncture for tension-type headaches have been mixed.[72][73][74][75][76] Overall, they show that acupuncture is probably not helpful for tension-type headaches.

### Cluster headaches

Abortive therapy for cluster headaches includes subcutaneous sumatriptan (injected under the skin) and triptan nasal sprays. High flow oxygen therapy also helps with relief.[11]

For people with extended periods of cluster headaches, preventive therapy can be necessary. Verapamil is recommended as first line treatment. Lithium can also be useful. For people with shorter bouts, a short course of prednisone (10 days) can be helpful. Ergotamine is useful if given 1–2 hours before an attack.[11]

### Neuromodulation

Peripheral neuromodulation has tentative benefits in primary headaches including cluster headaches and chronic migraine.[77] How it may work is still being looked into.[77]

## Epidemiology

Literature reviews find that approximately 64–77% of adults have had a headache at some point in their lives.[78][79] During each year, on average, 46–53% of people have headaches.[78][79] However, the prevalence of headache varies widely depending on how the survey was conducted, with studies finding lifetime prevalence of as low as 8% to as high as 96%.[78][79][80] Most of these headaches are not dangerous. Only approximately 1–5% of people who seek emergency treatment for headaches have a serious underlying cause.[81]

More than 90% of headaches are primary headaches.[82] Most of these primary headaches are tension headaches.[79] Most people with tension headaches have "episodic" tension headaches that come and go. Only 3.3% of adults have chronic tension headaches, with headaches for more than 15 days in a month.[79]

Approximately 12–18% of people in the world have migraines.[79] More women than men experience migraines. In Europe and North America, 5–9% of men experience migraines, while 12–25% of women experience migraines.[78]

Cluster headaches are relatively uncommon. They affect only 1–3 per thousand people in the world. Cluster headaches affect approximately three times as many men as women.[79]

## History

An 1819 caricature by George Cruikshank depicting a headache

The first recorded classification system was published by Aretaeus of Cappadocia, a medical scholar of Greco-Roman antiquity. He made a distinction between three different types of headache: i) cephalalgia, by which he indicates a sudden onset, temporary headache; ii) cephalea, referring to a chronic type of headache; and iii) heterocrania, a paroxysmal headache on one side of the head. Another classification system that resembles the modern ones was published by Thomas Willis, in De Cephalalgia in 1672. In 1787 Christian Baur generally divided headaches into idiopathic (primary headaches) and symptomatic (secondary ones), and defined 84 categories.[63]

## Children

In general, children experience the same types of headaches as adults do, but their symptoms may be slightly different. The diagnostic approach to headaches in children is similar to that of adults. However, young children may not be able to verbalize pain well.[83] If a young child is fussy, they may have a headache.[84]

Approximately 1% of emergency department visits for children are for headache.[85][86] Most of these headaches are not dangerous. The most common type of headache seen in pediatric emergency rooms is headache caused by a cold (28.5%). Other headaches diagnosed in the emergency department include post-traumatic headache (20%), headache related to a problem with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (a device put into the brain to remove excess CSF and reduce pressure in the brain) (11.5%) and migraine (8.5%).[86][87] The most common serious headaches found in children include brain bleeds (subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma), brain abscesses, meningitis and ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction. Only 4–6.9% of kids with a headache have a serious cause.[84]

Just as in adults, most headaches are benign, but when head pain is accompanied with other symptoms such as speech problems, muscle weakness, and loss of vision, a more serious underlying cause may exist: hydrocephalus, meningitis, encephalitis, abscess, hemorrhage, tumor, blood clots, or head trauma. In these cases, the headache evaluation may include CT scan or MRI in order to look for possible structural disorders of the central nervous system.[88] If a child with a recurrent headache has a normal physical exam, neuroimaging is not recommended. Guidelines state children with abnormal neurologic exams, confusion, seizures and recent onset of worst headache of life, change in headache type or anything suggesting neurologic problems should receive neuroimaging.[84]

When children complain of headaches, many parents are concerned about a brain tumor. Generally, headaches caused by brain masses are incapacitating and accompanied by vomiting.[84] One study found characteristics associated with brain tumor in children are: headache for greater than 6 months, headache related to sleep, vomiting, confusion, no visual symptoms, no family history of migraine and abnormal neurologic exam.[89]

Some measures can help prevent headaches in children. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day, avoiding caffeine, getting enough and regular sleep, eating balanced meals at the proper times, and reducing stress and excess of activities may prevent headaches.[90] Treatments for children are similar to those for adults, however certain medications such as narcotics should not be given to children.[84]

Children who have headaches will not necessarily have headaches as adults. In one study of 100 children with headache, eight years later 44% of those with tension headache and 28% of those with migraines were headache free.[91] In another study of people with chronic daily headache, 75% did not have chronic daily headaches two years later, and 88% did not have chronic daily headaches eight years later.[92]

### Cardiac Cephalgia in Heart Attack

Cardiac cephalgia[93] is a rare type of headache occurring during myocardial infarction, characterized by sudden, severe head pain that typically develops during or immediately following a heart attack. The pain is usually located in the occipital or frontal regions and can be accompanied by other cardiac symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or radiating arm pain. This specific headache type is considered a potential warning sign of cardiac distress and requires immediate medical attention to prevent potentially life-threatening complications.[94]

## See also

* Eye strain

## References

1. ↑ "Headache disorders" (in en). The World Health Organization. 8 April 2016. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/headache-disorders.
2. ↑ Silberstein, Stephen D. (2022-03-09), Lynch, Mary E.; Craig, Kenneth D.; Peng, Philip W., eds., "Headache" (in en), Clinical Pain Management (Wiley): pp. 336–342, doi:10.1002/9781119701170.ch32, ISBN 978-1-119-70115-6, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781119701170.ch32, retrieved 2022-04-29
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Headache disorders Fact sheet N° 277". The World Health Organization. 8 April 2016. https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs277/en/.
4. ↑ Britton, Carolyn B. (2013), Green, Mark W.; Muskin, Philip R., eds., "Stress and headache", The Neuropsychiatry of Headache (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press): pp. 54–62, doi:10.1017/cbo9781139206952.007, ISBN 978-1-107-02620-9, https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/neuropsychiatry-of-headache/stress-and-headache/5589A5C987524A008DCB3EAB29AB6FB2, retrieved 2022-04-29
5. ↑ "Headache Causes" (in en). https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/headache/basics/definition/sym-20050800.
6. ↑ "Headache" (in en). Johns Hopkins Medicine. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/headache.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Headache disorders: differentiating and managing the common subtypes". British Journal of Pain 6 (3): 124–132. August 2012. doi:10.1177/2049463712459691. PMID 26516483.
8. ↑ "Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013". Lancet 386 (9995): 743–800. August 2015. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(15)60692-4. PMID 26063472.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Scottish Intercollegiate Network (November 2008). Diagnosis and management of headache in adults. Edinburgh: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. ISBN 978-1-905813-39-1. http://www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/107/. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
10. ↑ "The Johns Hopkins Headache Center - Primary Exertion Headache". hopkinsmedicine.org. 3 January 2012. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/specialty_areas/headache/conditions/primary_vs_secondary_headaches.html.
11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 "Chapter 14. Headache". Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (18th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. 2012. ISBN 978-0-07-174890-2.
12. ↑ "Profile of Primary Patients in Neurological Polyclinic". Journal of Pain, Headache and Vertigo 2 (1): 1–4. 2021-03-02. doi:10.21776/ub.jphv.2021.002.01.1. ISSN 2723-3960. https://jphv.ub.ac.id/index.php/jphv/article/view/19.
13. ↑ "Primary headaches during lifespan". The Journal of Headache and Pain 20 (1). April 2019. doi:10.1186/s10194-019-0985-0. PMID 30961531.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 Clinch C. Chapter 28. Evaluation & Management of Headache - CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment in Family Medicine. Lange Current Series (Third ed.). McGraw-Hill. 2011. ISBN 978-0-07-162436-7.
15. ↑ "Migraine - Symptoms and causes" (in en). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201.
16. ↑ "Tension Headaches" (in en). 8 August 2021. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/headache/tension-headaches.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Does this patient with headache have a migraine or need neuroimaging?". JAMA 296 (10): 1274–1283. September 2006. doi:10.1001/jama.296.10.1274. PMID 16968852.
18. ↑ "Tension headache - Symptoms and causes" (in en). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tension-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20353977.
19. ↑ "Headaches" (in en). 8 January 2018. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/headaches/.
20. ↑ "The neurology of coeliac disease in childhood: what is the evidence? A systematic review and meta-analysis". Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 52 (8): 700–707. August 2010. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2010.03647.x. PMID 20345955.
21. ↑ "The spectrum of noncoeliac gluten sensitivity". Nature Reviews. Gastroenterology & Hepatology 12 (9): 516–526. September 2015. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2015.107. PMID 26122473.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Gastrointestinal disorders associated with migraine: A comprehensive review". World Journal of Gastroenterology 22 (36): 8149–8160. September 2016. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i36.8149. PMID 27688656.
23. ↑ "Cyclic vomiting syndrome: Pathophysiology, comorbidities, and future research directions". Neurogastroenterology and Motility 31 (Suppl 2). June 2019. doi:10.1111/nmo.13607. PMID 31241816.
24. ↑ "Clinical policy: critical issues in the evaluation and management of adult patients presenting to the emergency department with acute headache". Annals of Emergency Medicine 52 (4): 407–436. October 2008. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2008.07.001. PMID 18809105.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Clinical Neurology 8/E:Chapter 6. Headache & Facial Pain. McGraw Hill Professional. 6 May 2012. ISBN 978-0-07-175905-2.
26. ↑ "headache | Britannica" (in en). https://www.britannica.com/science/headache.
27. ↑ "Nociceptors: the sensors of the pain pathway". The Journal of Clinical Investigation 120 (11): 3760–3772. November 2010. doi:10.1172/JCI42843. PMID 21041958.
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Cluster headache". Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 3 (1). July 2008. doi:10.1186/1750-1172-3-20. PMID 18651939.
29. ↑ "How a Migraine Happens" (in en). 26 November 2019. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/headache/how-a-migraine-happens.
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 "Pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and diagnosis of migraine in adults.". UpToDate. San Francisco, CA: Wolters Kluwer. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pathophysiology-clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-migraine-in-adults.
31. ↑ "The vascular theory of migraine--a great story wrecked by the facts". Brain 132 (Pt 1): 6–7. January 2009. doi:10.1093/brain/awn321. PMID 19098031.
32. ↑ "Vasodilation out of the picture as a cause of migraine headache". The Lancet. Neurology 12 (5): 419–420. May 2013. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(13)70051-6. PMID 23578774.
33. ↑ "Magnetic resonance angiography of intracranial and extracranial arteries in patients with spontaneous migraine without aura: a cross-sectional study". The Lancet. Neurology 12 (5): 454–461. May 2013. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70067-X. PMID 23578775.
34. ↑ "Mechanisms of migraine aura revealed by functional MRI in human visual cortex". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 98 (8): 4687–4692. April 2001. doi:10.1073/pnas.071582498. PMID 11287655. Bibcode: 2001PNAS...98.4687H.
35. ↑ "The pathophysiology of migraine: year 2005". The Journal of Headache and Pain 6 (3): 105–111. June 2005. doi:10.1007/s10194-005-0165-2. PMID 16355290.
36. ↑ "Chapter 159. Headache and Facial Pain.". Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide (7th ed.). New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2011. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=348&sectionid=40381638. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
37. ↑ "Migraine Without Headache". Neurobalance. http://www.neurobalancechiropractic.com.au/migraine-without-headache/.
38. ↑ "Tension-type headache". BMJ 336 (7635): 88–92. January 2008. doi:10.1136/bmj.39412.705868.ad. PMID 18187725.
39. ↑ Levin, Emily Lehmann (2019). "Cluster Headache" (in en-US). Pain Neurosurgery. Oxford University Press. pp. 125–130. doi:10.1093/med/9780190887674.003.0016. ISBN 978-0-19-088770-4. https://oxfordmedicine.com/view/10.1093/med/9780190887674.001.0001/med-9780190887674-chapter-16.
40. ↑ "Using the triptans to treat: Migraine headaches: Comparing effectiveness, safety, and price". Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs: 8. March 2013. http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/triptanFINAL.pdf. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
41. ↑ "The utility of the electroencephalogram in the evaluation of patients presenting with headache: a review of the literature". Neurology 45 (7): 1263–1267. July 1995. doi:10.1212/WNL.45.7.1263. PMID 7617180.
42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 "Factors that cause concern". The Medical Clinics of North America 97 (2): 225–242. March 2013. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2012.11.002. PMID 23419623.
43. ↑ American College of Emergency Physicians (January 2002). "Clinical policy: critical issues in the evaluation and management of patients presenting to the emergency department with acute headache". Annals of Emergency Medicine 39 (1): 108–122. doi:10.1067/mem.2002.120125. PMID 11782746.
44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 "Chapter 9. Headache.". The Patient History: An Evidence-Based Approach to Differential Diagnosis. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. 2012. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=500&sectionid=41026552.
45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 "Approach to acute headache in adults". American Family Physician 87 (10): 682–687. May 2013. PMID 23939446.
46. ↑ "Treatment of acute migraine headache". American Family Physician 83 (3): 271–280. February 2011. PMID 21302868. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0201/p271.html. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
47. ↑ "The diagnostic value of historical features in primary headache syndromes: a comprehensive review". Archives of Internal Medicine 160 (18): 2729–2737. October 2000. doi:10.1001/archinte.160.18.2729. PMID 11025782.
48. ↑ Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (19th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. 8 April 2015. pp. 2594–2595. ISBN 978-0-07-180215-4.
49. ↑ "Commercially available mobile phone headache diary apps: a systematic review". JMIR mHealth and uHealth 2 (3): e36. August 2014. doi:10.2196/mhealth.3452. PMID 25138438.
50. ↑ "Chapter 18: I Have a Patient with Headache. How Do I Determine the Cause?". Symptom to Diagnosis: An Evidence-Based Guide (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. 2010. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=383&sectionid=41676347.
51. ↑ Evidence-based guidelines in the primary care setting: neuroimaging in patients with nonacute headache.. St Paul, MN: US Headache Consortium. April 2000. pp. 1–25.
52. ↑ "Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question". Choosing Wisely. American Headache Society. September 2013. http://www.choosingwisely.org/doctor-patient-lists/american-headache-society/. , which cites
* "The utility of neuroimaging in the evaluation of children with migraine or chronic daily headache who have normal neurological examinations". Headache 40 (8): 629–632. September 2000. doi:10.1046/j.1526-4610.2000.040008629.x. PMID 10971658.
* "Practice parameter: evidence-based guidelines for migraine headache (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology". Neurology 55 (6): 754–762. September 2000. doi:10.1212/WNL.55.6.754. PMID 10993991.
* Medical Advisory Secretariat (2010). "Neuroimaging for the evaluation of chronic headaches: an evidence-based analysis". Ontario Health Technology Assessment Series 10 (26): 1–57. PMID 23074404.
53. ↑ "Headache. American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria". Radiology 215 (Suppl): 855–60. June 2000. PMID 11037510.
54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 IHS Classification ICHD-2 (Online ed.). International Headache Society. http://ihs-classification.org/en/. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
55. ↑ Website The International Headache Classification (ICHD-3 Beta). Retrieved 29. August 2016.
56. ↑ Olesen et al. 2005, pp. 9–11.
57. ↑ "The classification and treatment of headache". The Medical Clinics of North America 35 (5): 1485–1493. September 1951. doi:10.1016/S0025-7125(16)35236-1. PMID 14862569.
58. ↑ Ad Hoc Committee on Classification of Headache (1962). "Classification of Headache". JAMA 179 (9): 717–8. doi:10.1001/jama.1962.03050090045008.
59. ↑ The Headaches (3 ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2005.
60. ↑ Comprehensive Review of Headache Medicine. Oxford University Press. 2008. ISBN 978-0-19-536673-0.
61. ↑ "Primary thunderclap headache". Headache. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. 97. Elsevier. 2010. pp. 473–481. doi:10.1016/s0072-9752(10)97042-5. ISBN 978-0-444-52139-2.
62. ↑ "Hypnic headache". Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics 10 (9): 1391–1397. September 2010. doi:10.1586/ern.10.112. PMID 20839413.
63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Levin et al. 2008, p. 60.
64. ↑ "Headache Information Page | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke". https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/headache.
65. ↑ "Opioids for chronic noncancer pain: a position paper of the American Academy of Neurology". Neurology 83 (14): 1277–1284. September 2014. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000000839. PMID 25267983.
66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 {{cite report | vauthors = Bajwa ZH, Sabahat A | title = Preventive Treatment of Migraine in Adults. | work = UptoDate | veditors = Swanson JW | location = San Francisco, CA. | publisher = Wolters Kluwer

## External links

| The Wikibook Internal Medicine has a page on the topic of: Headache

|

Classification|

* ICD-10: G43, G44, R51
* ICD-9-CM: 339, 784.0
* MeSH: D006261
* DiseasesDB: 19825

|

External resources|

* MedlinePlus: 003024
* eMedicine: neuro/517

Articles and topics related to Headache

* v
* t
* e

Diseases of the nervous system, primarily CNS (G04–G47, 323–349)

Inflammation|

| Brain|

* Encephalitis
* Viral encephalitis
* Herpesviral encephalitis
* Limbic encephalitis
* Encephalitis lethargica
* Cavernous sinus thrombosis
* Brain abscess
* Amoebic

|

Spinal cord|

* Myelitis: Poliomyelitis
* Demyelinating disease
* Transverse myelitis
* Tropical spastic paraparesis
* Epidural abscess

Both/either|

* Encephalomyelitis
* Acute disseminated
* Myalgic
* Meningoencephalitis

Brain/
encephalopathy|

| Degenerative|

| Extrapyramidal and
movement disorders|

* Basal ganglia disease
* Parkinsonism
* PD
* Postencephalitic
* NMS
* PKAN
* Tauopathy
* PSP
* Striatonigral degeneration
* Hemiballismus
* HD
* OA

* Dyskinesia
* Dystonia
* Status dystonicus
* Spasmodic torticollis
* Meige's
* Blepharospasm
* Athetosis
* Chorea
* Choreoathetosis
* Myoclonus
* Myoclonic epilepsy
* Akathisia

* Tremor
* Essential tremor
* Intention tremor
* Restless legs
* Stiff-person

|

Dementia|

* Tauopathy
* Alzheimer's
* Early-onset
* Primary progressive aphasia
* Frontotemporal dementia/Frontotemporal lobar degeneration
* Pick's
* Dementia with Lewy bodies
* Posterior cortical atrophy

* Vascular dementia

Mitochondrial disease|

* Leigh syndrome

Demyelinating|

* autoimmune
* Multiple sclerosis
* Neuromyelitis optica
* Schilder's disease
* hereditary
* Adrenoleukodystrophy
* Alexander
* Canavan
* Krabbe
* ML
* PMD
* VWM
* MFC
* CAMFAK syndrome
* Central pontine myelinolysis
* Marchiafava–Bignami disease
* Alpers' disease

Episodic/
paroxysmal|

| Seizure/epilepsy|

* Focal
* Generalised
* Status epilepticus
* Myoclonic epilepsy

|

Headache|

* Migraine
* Familial hemiplegic
* Cluster
* Tension

Cerebrovascular|

* TIA
* Amaurosis fugax
* Transient global amnesia
* Acute aphasia

* Stroke
* MCA
* ACA
* PCA
* Foville's
* Millard–Gubler
* Lateral medullary
* Medial medullary
* Weber's
* Lacunar stroke

Sleep disorders|

* Insomnia
* Hypersomnia
* Sleep apnea
* Obstructive
* Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome
* Narcolepsy
* Cataplexy
* Kleine–Levin
* Circadian rhythm sleep disorder
* Advanced sleep phase disorder
* Delayed sleep phase disorder
* Non-24-hour sleep–wake disorder
* Jet lag

CSF|

* Intracranial hypertension
* Hydrocephalus/NPH
* Choroid plexus papilloma
* Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
* Cerebral edema
* Intracranial hypotension

Other|

* Brain herniation
* Reye's
* Hepatic encephalopathy
* Toxic encephalopathy
* Hashimoto's encephalopathy

Spinal cord/
myelopathy|

* Syringomyelia
* Syringobulbia
* Morvan's syndrome
* Vascular myelopathy
* Foix–Alajouanine syndrome
* Spinal cord compression

Both/either|

| Degenerative|

| SA|

* Friedreich's ataxia
* Ataxia–telangiectasia

|

MND|

* UMN only:
* Primary lateral sclerosis
* Pseudobulbar palsy
* Hereditary spastic paraplegia

* LMN only:
* Distal hereditary motor neuronopathies
* Spinal muscular atrophies
* SMA
* SMAX1
* SMAX2
* DSMA1
* Congenital DSMA
* SMA-PCH
* SMA-LED
* SMA-PME
* Progressive muscular atrophy
* Progressive bulbar palsy
* Fazio–Londe
* Infantile progressive bulbar palsy

* both:
* Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Template:Headache

* v
* t
* e

Symptoms and signs: general / constitutional (R50–R61, 780.6–780.9)

Temperature|

| heat|

* Fever
* of unknown origin
* drug-induced
* postoperative
* Hyperthermia
* Hyperhidrosis
* Night sweats

|

cold|

* Chills
* Hypothermia

Aches and pains|

* Headache
* Chronic pain
* Cancer pain
* Myalgia
* Tenderness

Malaise and fatigue|

* Lassitude
* Lethargy
* Atrophy
* of muscle
* Debility (or asthenia)

Miscellaneous|

* Flu-like symptoms

* v
* t
* e

Pain and nociception]]

By region/system|

| HEENT|

* Headache
* Neck
* Odynophagia (swallowing)
* Toothache

|

Respiratory system|

* Sore throat
* Pleurodynia

Musculoskeletal|

* Arthralgia (joint)
* Bone pain
* Myalgia (muscle)
* Muscle soreness: Acute / Delayed onset

Neurologic|

* Congenital insensitivity to pain
* HSAN
* Type I
* II congenital sensory neuropathy
* III familial dysautonomia
* IV congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis
* V congenital insensitivity to pain with partial anhidrosis
* Neuralgia
* Pain asymbolia
* Pain disorder
* Paroxysmal extreme pain disorder
* Allodynia
* Chronic pain
* Hyperalgesia
* Hypoalgesia
* Hyperpathia
* Phantom pain
* Referred pain

Other|

* Pelvic pain
* Proctalgia
* Back
* Low back pain (LBP)

Tests|

* Cold pressor test
* Dolorimeter
* Grimace scale (animals)
* Hot plate test
* Tail flick test

Related concepts|

* Anterolateral system
* Pain management
* Anesthesia
* Cordotomy
* Pain scale
* Pain threshold
* Pain tolerance
* Posteromarginal nucleus
* Substance P
* Suffering
* OPQRST
* Philosophy of pain
* Cancer pain
* Drug-seeking behavior

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