Headache
Headache: Introduction
Almost everyone gets an occasional headache
and they are usually harmless.
On the other hand, headache is a symptom of numerous conditions
ranging from common cold, flu, or a hangover
to very severe conditions such as meningitis, stroke, or a brain tumor
(see full list of conditions with symptoms of headache).
Because of the range of possible causes, correct diagnosis is very important.
Sudden headache depends on what is meant by "sudden" and can indicate some extremely severe conditions
if its onset is rapid, severe, or seems unusual.
A headache that comes on reasonably slowly over a period, such as in the afternoon at work,
is most likely common headache or a tension headache.
But the very rapid arrival of a headache, particularly an excruciating headache, can be a variety
of very serious conditions like cerebral aneurysm or other brain condition.
Also surprisingly common but not well-known is the sexual headache from sexual exertion
that can cause a severe headache that can come on very quickly.
Sudden and severe headache can also indicate numerous dangerous conditions (e.g. meningitis, stroke);
seek professional medical advice immediately for persistent headache, excruciating headache,
headache not responding to medication,
or a "worst ever headache".
A severe headache that wakes you in the night or a severe headache on
waking up in the morning
can also indicate a severe brain condition that may have occurred during sleep.
If there is any doubt, seek immediate professional medical help.
Sudden headache can also be the first instance of a chronic headache problem
and hence caused by the various causes of chronic headache.
Chronic headache affects millions of people.
There are various headaches that can occur chronically
such as migraine, cluster headache, or tension headache.
Chronic headache can also occur due to various underlying conditions,
medications, or toxins.
Symptoms of Headache
- Confusion
- Memory problems
- Headaches
- Vision problems
- 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, convulsions 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
- more symptoms...»
Read more about symptoms of Headache
Home Diagnostic Testing
Home medical testing related to Headache:
Headache: Complications
Review possible medical complications related to Headache:
Disease Topics Related To Headache
Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Headache:
Medical Textbooks Online about Headache
Medical Books Excerpts
- HEADACHE
- "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs" (2003)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms" (2007)
- [ read ]
- HEADACHE
- "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis" (1999)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition)" (2005)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics" (2006)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms" (2007)
- [ read ]
- HEADACHES
- "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)
- [ read ]
Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Diagnostic Tests for Headache
See full list of 9
diagnostic tests for Headache
Wrongly Diagnosed with Headache?
Headache: Medical Mistakes
Headache: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Headache:
Headache: Undiagnosed Conditions
Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:
Misdiagnosis and Headache
Migraine an undiagnosed cause of headache: It is surprising that many migraine sufferers are not
initially diagnosed. Although the condition is fairly well known, there are also many other causes of headache,
and the ...read more »
Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps,
particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes.
However, there are also various other causes....read more »
Mild traumatic brain injury often remains undiagnosed: Although the symptoms
of severe brain injury are hard to miss,
it is less clear for milder injuries, or even those causing a mild concussion diagnosis.
The condition goes by...read more »
MTBI misdiagnosed as balance problem: When a person has symptoms
such as vertigo or dizziness, a diagnosis of brain injury may go overlooked.
This is particularly true of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), for which...read more »
Post-concussive brain injury often misdiagnosed: A study found that soldiers who had
suffered a concussive injury in battle often were misdiagnosed on their return.
A variety of symptoms can occur in post...read more »
Children with migraine often misdiagnosed: A migraine often fails to be
correctly diagnosed in pediatric patients.
These patients are not the typical migraine sufferers, but migraines can also occur in children.
See misdiagnosis of...read more »
Hypertension misdiagnosis common in children: Hypertension is often
misdiagnosed in adults (see misdiagnosis of hypertension), but its misdiagnosis is even more likely in...read more »
Pituitary conditions often undiagnosed cause of symptoms: There are a variety of symptoms
that can be caused by a pituitary disorder (see symptoms of pituitary disorders).
For example, fatigue, ...read more »
Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency
is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of...read more »
Glaucoma-red eye: Acute angle closure glaucoma is a medical emergency and can very often be misdiagnosed when it makes an atypical presentation.It occurs due to sudden increase in the intra ocular...read more »
Pheochromocytoma can mimic an anxiety attack: Pheochromocytoma is a tumour of the adrenal
glands which secretes excessive amounts of catecholamines...read more »
Weil's disease has poor outcome in severe cases: Leptospirosis( Weil's disesase) is a zoonotic
condition which occurs due to the entry of spirochetes called leptospira....read more »
Rash of Dengue can be misdiagnosed: Dengue
fever also known as 'breakbone fever' is a mosquito borne viral infection. The
most common clinical...read more »
Immediate care in extradural haematoma: Extradural haematoma
is a surgical emergency because it can lead to death if the clot is not removed
promptly. It usually occurs following a head injury that has resulted in only a
transient...read more »
Rare cases of headache: Headache is
one of the common symptoms presenting in general practice. It needs a sound
diagnostic and management strategy as the problem can be confusing. The key to
diagnosing the condition is...read more »
Ross river fever an epidemic polyarthritic condition: Ross river fever
is prevalent in mosquito prone areas and in tropical regions. It can occur in...read more »
Hidden cancer- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: This is a cancer which occurs in the nasopharynx - an area located
behind the nose and above the throat. Vague nature of symptoms, hidden
location and rare occurrence are all...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Headache
Headache: Research Doctors & Specialists
Research related physicians and medical specialists:
- Nerve Specialists:
- Pain Specialists:
- Arthritis & Joint Health Specialists (Rheumatology):
- more specialists...»
Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:
Headache: Rare Types
Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:
Causes of Headache
See full list of 1433
causes of Headache
More information about causes of Headache:
Treatments for Headache
See full list of 12
treatments for Headache
Latest Treatments for Headache
See full list of 13
latest treatments for Headache
News Archives for Headache
Medical news articles related to Headache include:
Source: HealthDay News
Videos for Headache
Migraine headaches can do more than ruin your day - they can interfere with your life. But migraines can be managed. Learn what can be done to...
Anyone who suffers from headaches knows they can put a damper on everyday life. But not all headaches are alike. Learn what type of headache you have.
One class of HIV medicines has been associated with problems related to the central nervous system. Side effects include vivid dreams and sleep...
Each year you hear about small outbreaks of meningitis. It is highly contagious and sometimes fatal. Learn why the classic symptoms of a high fever...
See full list of 12 related videos
Patient Surveys for Headache
Prognosis for Headache
Prognosis for Headache:
Depends on subtype and cause of headache; common headache usually harmless.
More about prognosis of Headache
Reseach about Headache
Visit our research pages for current research about Headache treatments.
Clinical Trials for Headache
The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally
and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.
Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Headache include:
See full list of 147
Clinical Trials for Headache
Statistics for Headache
Headache: Broader Related Topics
Types of Headache
Types of Headache
See full list of 13
Types of Headache
Curable Types of Headache
Possibly curable types of Headache include:
Rare Types of Headache:
Rare types of Headache include:
Stories from Users Related to Headache
- Pain/Pressure in back of head when I laugh
- "ice Pick" Headaches
- Headaches, dizziness, fatigue
- living with a cronic pain on the right side of my head. no idea what it is it
- Pain in my head and face FOR 6 MONTHS
- Headache after ejaculation
- Head pressure, Spaced out, foggy, dizzy, fatigue, top neck ache
- 38 day temple headache
- 2 painful spots on back of head
- teen daughter with headaches, bradycardia, and dizziness
- Severe Headache, Dizziness, and Fainting (all tests neg)
- calf aches
- severe mood swings, body aches, pains in head, chills, fatigue
- Strange symptoms, kalium loss, headaches.
- what causes my sisters headaches and siezures.
- Pain on Right side of face & Head
- 24/7 headache !
- What could be causing our headaches?
- Aches, feverish for months
- chronic headaches
Related forums and medical stories:
User Interactive Forums
Read about other experiences, ask a question about Headache, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:
Definitions of Headache:
Pain in various parts of the head, not confined to the area of distribution of any nerve.
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Pain in the head caused by dilation of cerebral arteries or muscle contractions or a reaction to drugs
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)
Contents for Headache:
User Surveys and Discussion Forums
» Next page: What is Headache?
Rate This Website
What do you think about the features of this website?
Take our user survey and have your say:
Website User Survey
Medical Tools & Articles:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Forums & Message Boards
- Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
