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Diving Headache

  • Uncommon and/or Unusual Headaches and Syndromes (J Ailani, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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A Correction to this article was published on 10 August 2019

This article has been updated

Abstract

This review will focus on the most recent information regarding the ICHD-3 definition of diving headache as well as other important causes of diving headache that are not listed in the ICHD-3 classification system. The paper will discuss etiology, diagnosis, and management of these disorders, focusing, when possible, on the newest research available. ICHD-3 diving headache is due to hypercapnia and is treated accordingly with oxygen. Other causes of diving headache range from decompression sickness to external compression headache to primary headache disorders, such as migraine. Correctly determining the underlying cause of the diving headache is critical to management and relies on history taking and physical exam. The pathophysiology of newly described types of diving headache, such as diving ascent headache, remains under investigation but may be related to other homeostatic headache causes, such as airplane headache. Further investigation may yield more information regarding management as well as possible insight into other headache disorders.

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Change history

  • 10 August 2019

    The original version of this article incorrectly listed the second author’s name. It should be Stephanie J. Nahas, not Stephanie J. Nahas-Geiger. The author name is corrected in this erratum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jefferson Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    John Glenn Burkett & Stephanie J. Nahas-Geiger

Authors
  1. John Glenn Burkett
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  2. Stephanie J. Nahas-Geiger
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Correspondence to John Glenn Burkett.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Uncommon and/or Unusual Headaches and Syndromes

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Burkett, J.G., Nahas-Geiger, S.J. Diving Headache. Curr Pain Headache Rep 23, 46 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-019-0787-8

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