Headache

For other uses, see Headache (disambiguation).

Headache
Other namesCephalalgia
Person with a headache
SpecialtyNeurology
TypesTension headache, cluster headache, sinusitis, migraine headache, hangover headache, cold-stimulus headache (brain freeze)
TreatmentOver-the-counter painkillers, sleep, drinking water, eating food, head or neck massage

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 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]

  1. ^ "Headache disorders". The World Health Organization. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  2. ^ Silberstein SD (2022-03-09), Lynch ME, Craig KD, Peng PW (eds.), "Headache", Clinical Pain Management (1 ed.), Wiley, pp. 336–342, doi:10.1002/9781119701170.ch32, ISBN 978-1-119-70115-6, retrieved 2022-04-29
  3. ^ a b "Headache disorders Fact sheet N° 277". The World Health Organization. 8 April 2016. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  4. ^ Britton CB (2013), Green MW, Muskin PR (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, retrieved 2022-04-29
  5. ^ "Headache Causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Headache". Johns Hopkins Medicine. The Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  7. ^ a b Ahmed F (August 2012). "Headache disorders: differentiating and managing the common subtypes". British Journal of Pain. 6 (3): 124–132. doi:10.1177/2049463712459691. PMC 4590146. PMID 26516483.
  8. ^ Vos T, Barber RM, Bell B, Bertozzi-Villa A, Biryukov S, Bolliger I, et al. (Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 Collaborators) (August 2015). "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. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(15)60692-4. PMC 4561509. PMID 26063472.