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

Approach to Headache

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
› Author Affiliations 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

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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