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Semin Neurol 2021; 41(06): 633-643
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1726360
Review Article

Approach to Headache

Authors

  • Sarah M. Bobker

    1   Department of Neurology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York

  • Joseph E. Safdieh

    1   Department of Neurology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York

Funding No financial support has been received for this article. No recognition of personal assistance has occurred for this work being published.
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Abstract

There is a very high prevalence of headache in both outpatient and inpatient settings, in the United States and worldwide, due to an abundance of possible causes. Having a practical and systematic approach to evaluating and treating headache is, therefore, key to making the correct diagnosis, or possibly overlapping diagnoses. Taking a thorough and methodical headache history is the mainstay for diagnosis of both primary and secondary headache disorders. Evaluation and workup should include a complete neurological examination, consideration of neuroimaging in specific limited situations, and serum or spinal fluid analysis if indicated. Adopting a diagnostic approach to headache ensures that cannot-miss, or potentially fatal, headache syndromes are not overlooked, while resource-intensive tests are performed only on an as-needed basis.

Keywords

history taking - approach - impact of headache - burden of headache - migraine


Publication History

Article published online:
26 November 2021

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