Headache Syndromes

Headache syndromes, characterised by recurrent headache, are one of the commonest medical complaints of the nervous system and can carry a variety of symptoms affecting quality of life.

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What are the common causes of headache syndromes?

Headaches are one of the commonest medical complaints. Your symptoms will often help determine the cause and appropriate treatment. The commonest causes include:

  • Migraine
  • Tension headaches
  • Trigeminal autonomic cephalgias such as cluster headaches, paroxysmal hemicrania and others
  • Medication overuse headaches

The majority of the time, the headaches are not the result of a life-threatening illness but nevertheless can be very disabling. Effective treatments are available which can reduce the frequency and severity of the headaches, improving quality of life.

It is important that headaches are assessed by a specialist to rule out causes of secondary headaches due to serious underlying disorders which include:

What are the symptoms of headache syndromes?

These vary depending on the type of headache that you have, and these can be evaluated further by your specialist. Symptoms may include:

  • head/facial pain (can feel throbbing, sharp, dull, burning, stabbing etc)
  • nausea/vomiting
  • light/sound/smell/movement sensitivity
  • visual symptoms (including flashing lights, zig-zag lines, blurred vision)
  • dizziness
  • tearing from the eyes
  • runny nose, nasal congestion

When should a medical expert be consulted when suffering from these syndromes?

It is advised to contact a healthcare professional or your GP if you are experiencing:

  • headaches that are your affecting your quality of life
  • new persistent headache or a change in your usual headache symptoms
  • headaches that wakes you up at night
  • headaches triggered by coughing, bending or strenuous exercise
  • having more than four days per month with headaches
  • the need to take pain relief regularly for headaches

 

The following need immediate medical care:

  • sudden severe headache
  • a new headache if you are pregnant or over 55 years of age
  •  headache immediately after head injury or accident
  •  a headache associated with any of the following:

o   weakness

o   numbness

o   change in vision

o   personality change

o   confusion

o   seizures

o   loss of consciousness

o   fever, rash, neck stiffness

Learn more about when to see a neurologist for headaches and migraines in this article. 

Treatment options for headache syndromes?

There are many effective treatment options available and these will be recommended to by your specialist depending on the type of headache you have. For primary headaches, these include:

  • lifestyle measures such as stress reduction and sleep management
  • tablet medications – several options available
  • injections such as Botox, greater occipital nerve (GON) injections
  • calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibody treatments
  • non-invasive transmagnetic stimulation
  • non-invasive Gammacore vagal nerve stimulation

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Headache Syndromes Specialists

We have brought together a group of leading neurologists, neuroradiologists, and neurophysiologists to create our Neurology team. With over 300 years of combined experience, these expert clinicians are the best in their field providing services that integrate across multiple specialties.