External compression headaches


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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Pain Management Advisor

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External compression headaches can occur when any head wear puts continuous pressure on your forehead or scalp.

Common culprits of external compression headaches include tight hats, helmets, headbands and goggles. These headaches are sometimes known by other names that are specific to the type of equipment causing your headache, such as "swim-goggle headache" or "football-helmet headache."

With external compression headaches, the solution is as obvious as the cause. Simply remove the head wear causing the pressure.

Symptoms
References
  1. External compression headache. International Headache Society. http://ihs-classification.org/en/02_klassifikation/04_teil3/13.10.00_facialpain.html. Accessed Oct. 5, 2011.
  2. Krymchantowski AV. Headaches due to external compression. Current Pain and Headache Reports. 2010;14:321.
DS00642 Jan. 17, 2012

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