Headache


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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Headache is pain in any region of the head. Headaches may occur on one or both sides of the head, be isolated to a certain location, radiate across the head from one point, or have a vise-like quality. A headache may be a sharp pain, throbbing sensation or dull ache. Headaches may appear gradually or suddenly, and they may last less than an hour or for several days.

Causes
References
  1. Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2013: 5 Books in 1. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-08373-7..00002-9&isbn=978-0-323-08373-7&about=true&uniqId=343863096-23. Accessed April 17, 2013.
  2. Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed April 17, 2013.
  3. Secondary headaches. American Headache Society Committee for Headache Education. 2004;24(suppl):9. http://www.achenet.org/resources/secondary_headaches/. Accessed April 17, 2013.
  4. Understanding brain tumors. American Academy of Neurology. http://patients.aan.com/search/?event=results&query=secondary+headache+causes&search=Search. Accessed April 17, 2013.
  5. NINDS meningitis and encephalitis information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/encephalitis_meningitis/encephalitis_meningitis.htm. Accessed April 17, 2013.
  6. NINDS stroke information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm. Accessed April 17, 2013.
  7. Green MW. Secondary headaches. Continuum Lifelong Learning Neurology. 2012;18:783.
  8. Abrams BM. Medication overuse headaches. Medical Clinics of North America. 2013;97:337.
  9. Friedman BW, et al. Headache emergencies: Diagnosis and management. Neurological Clinics. 2012;30:43.
  10. Headache hygiene tips. American Headache Society Committee for Headache Education. http://www.achenet.org/resources/trigger_avoidance_information/. Accessed April 17, 2013.
  11. Krymchantowski, AV. Headaches due to external compression. Current Pain and Headache Reports. 2010;14:321.
MY00407 June 4, 2013

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