Overview of Common and Important Headache Disorders

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a summary of headache disorders that are common or important in primary care. Later chapters cover all aspects in greater detail.

The key headache disorders are primary – migraine, tension-type headache, and cluster headache. A relatively small number of secondary headache disorders may be seen in primary care and are important because they are serious and need to be recognized.

Collectively, headache disorders are common and ubiquitous. They have a neurological basis, but headache rarely signals serious underlying illness. The huge public-health importance of headache arises from its causal association with personal and societal burdens of pain, disability, damaged quality of life, and financial cost.

Headache disorders have many types and subtypes, but a very small number of them impose almost all of these burdens. Most of these can be effectively treated. They are diagnosed clinically, requiring no special investigations. Their management belongs in primary care.

Mismanagement and overuse of medications to treat acute headache are major risk factors for disease aggravation.