TREATMENTS &
RESEARCH

Search the
latest
treatment
information
here.

Dr. Huntley's
Diagnosis
Checklist

Have a symptom?
See what questions
a doctor would ask.

Next Prev

Diseases » Headache » Summary

What is Headache?

Contents

Headache: Introduction
Types of Headache
Prognosis
Complications
Prevalence
Other names for Headache
What causes Headache?
What are the symptoms of Headache?
Organs Affected by Headache
How is it treated?
Society issues for Headache
Headache: Introduction

What is Headache?

Headache: In medicine a headache or cephalalgia is a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and sometimes neck. Some of the causes are benign while others are medical emergencies. It ranks among the most common pain complaints.
Headache: Pain in various parts of the head, not confined to the area of distribution of any nerve.
Source - Diseases Database
Headache: pain in the head caused by dilation of cerebral arteries or muscle contractions or a reaction to drugs.
Source - WordNet 2.1

Headache: Introduction

Types of Headache:

Types of Headache:

Common Headache
Migraine
Sexual headache
Cluster headache
Tension headache
Chronic headache
Vascular headaches - related to blood vessels; includes migraines and cluster headaches.
Muscle contraction headaches - caused by the muscles of the face, neck or head; includes tension headache.
Traction headaches - caused by the head or neck being pulled or moved.
Infection headaches - caused by various infections
Exertional headaches - occurring after exertion or exercise
Helmet headache - pain focused on the upper half of the head.
Post-traumatic headache - caused by head or neck injury.
more types...»

Broader types of Headache:

How many people get Headache?

Prevalance of Headache: 45 million Americans get chronic headaches. 20 million American women (NWHIC).
Prevalance Rate of Headache: approx 1 in 6 or 16.54% or 45 million people in USA [about data]

How serious is Headache?

Prognosis of Headache: Depends on subtype and cause of headache; common headache usually harmless.
Complications of Headache: see complications of Headache
Prognosis of Headache: About 90 percent of chronic headache patients can be helped. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Headache Information Page: NINDS)

What causes Headache?

Causes of Headache: see causes of Headache
Risk factors for Headache: see risk factors for Headache

What are the symptoms of Headache?

Symptoms of Headache: see symptoms of Headache

Complications of Headache: see complications of Headache

Headache: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Headache.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Headache.

How is it treated?

Doctors and Medical Specialists for Headache: Internist, Neurologist, Psychologist ; see also doctors and medical specialists for Headache.
Treatments for Headache: see treatments for Headache
Research for Headache: see research for Headache

Society issues for Headache

Hospitalization statistics for Headache: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Headache:

0.3% (37,798) of hospital consultant episodes were for headache in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
86% of hospital consultant episodes for headache required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
39% of hospital consultant episodes for headache were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
61% of hospital consultant episodes for headache were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
more statistics...»

Physician office visits for Headache: 9,876,000 people visited a physician’s office for headaches in the US 2001 (National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2001) Physician office visits for Headache: headache sufferers make over 8 million visits a year to doctor's offices. (Source: excerpt from Headache - Hope Through Research: NINDS)