Headache diagnosis

Abstract

Headache is an extremely common symptom in primary care practice. Despite the ubiquity of the pain, differential diagnosis of headache is not difficult, provided the clinician obtains a comprehensive history. A complete physical examination and specific testing may be required to rule out other underlying causes, but headache itself falls into 3 main classes that are readily identified. Migraine headache occurs most, commonly in women, is of moderate to severe intensity, and is often accompanied by nausea and increased sensitivity to light and sound. Cluster headache describes multiple recurrent attacks of severe unilateral pain and occurs most frequently in men. Tension-type headache is the most common form, characterized by mild to moderate dull pain that is often brought on by stress and/or depression. Understanding the triggers and manifestations of these headache types is essential for effective management.