External compression headaches

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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

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The pain of external compression headaches is often described as constant pressure. It hurts most where the object is pressing on your head. As long as the head wear is in place, the pain may get progressively worse.

When to see a doctor
Because compression headaches go away when you remove whatever object is causing the pressure on your head, it's necessary to seek further medical attention only if your headache continues after you've removed the object.

Causes Definition
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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