1. APPROACH TO HEADACHE
By
Doctor IJAZ HUSSAIN
MBBS, MRCGP, MCPS, Dip Avn Med
Registrar Family Medicine PSMMC

2. SEQUENCE OF PRESENTATION
 INTRODUCTION
 CLASSIFICATION OF HEADCHE
 APPROACH TO A PATIENT WITH HEADACHE
 MANAGEMENT OF VARIOUS TYPES OF HEADACHE
 DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION
•
The term headache should encompass all aches and pains located in the head, but in practice
its applications is restricted to discomfort in the region of the cranial volt.
•
Headache, or cephalalgia, is defined as diffuse pain in various parts of the head, with the pain
not confined to the area of distribution of a nerve
•
Headache is usually a benign symptom but occasionally it is the manifestation of a
serious illness.

5. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF HEADACHE
Pain sensitive cranial structures
 Skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, extra cranial arteries and periosteum of

the skull (scalp).
 Intra-cranial venous sinuses and their large tributaries.
 Parts of the dura of base of brain and falx cerebri.
 Arteries within dura and pia-arachniod particularly proximal parts of
anterior & middle Cerebral arteries & the intra-cranial segments of ICA.
 Middle meningeal and superficial temporal arteries.
 II, III, V, IX, X cranial nerves and 1st three cervical nerves.
 Delicate structures of the eye, ear, nasal cavities and sinuses.
 The bony skull, much of the pia-arachniod and dura over the convexity of
the brain ,

6. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Pain sensitive Cranial Structures
 The Parenchyma of the Brain
 The Ependyma
 Choroids Plexus

7. HEADACHE CAN OCCUR AS A RESULT OF
1. Distension, traction or dilatation of intra-cranial or extra-cranial arteries,
e.g:
- Headache that follows seizure.
- After ingestion of alcohol.
- After taking nitrates.
- After eating mono sodium glutamate.
- Fever and
- Extreme rise of BP.
2.Traction or displacement of large intracranial veins or their dural envelope.
3. Compression, traction or inflammation cranial or spinal nerves.
4. Spasm, inflammation or trauma to cranial & cervical muscles & epiphyseal
joints in the upper part of spine.
5. Meningeal irritation & raised ICP.
6. Infection or blockage of PNS.
7. Headache of ocular origin:
 Sustained Contraction Of Extra Ocular Muscles, Acute Glaucoma, And Iridocyclitis.

9. CLASSIFICATION
( International Headache Society )
1. Migraine:
 Migraine with aura
 Migraine without aura
 Ophthalmoplegic Migraine
 Retinal migraine
2. Tension type headache
3. Cluster headache
4.Miscellaneous headache
Idiopathic stabbing headache.
Cold stimulus headache .
Benign cough headache .
Headache associated with sexual activity .

10. Classification contd..
5.Headache associated with head trauma.
6.Headache associated with vascular disorder.
Acute ischaemic (CVD)
Intracranial haematoma .
SAH
Arteritis- Giant cell arteritis.
Venous thrombosis.
Arterial hypertension.
7.Headache associated with non vascular intracranial disorder.
Intracranial neoplasm .
Sarcoidosis and other non-infectious inflammatory disease.
Intracranial infection-Meningitis
High CSF pressure.
Low CSF pressure.
8.Headache associated with substances or their withdrawal.

11. Classification contd..
9.Headache associated with non cephalic infection.
10. Headache associated with metabolic disorder.
Hypoxia
Hypercapnia
Mixed hypoxia and hypercapnia
Hypoglycemia
Dialysis
11.Headache or facial pain associated with disorders of
facial or cranial structures.
Eyes- Glaucoma
Ears, Nose and PNS
Cranial bones,Teeth,TMJ
12.Cranial neuralgias ,nerve trunk pain:
Trigeminal neuralgia.
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Nervous intermedius neuralgia.
Superior laryngeal neuralgia.
Occipital neuralgia.
13.Headache not classified.

13. DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH OF HEADACHE
HISTORY:
1.Age, Sex, Occupation:
 Migraine headache – more frequent in teenagers & young adults,
higher occurrence in female.
 Cluster headache – almost exclusively in males.
 Cranial arteritis – more frequently in late middle age & in elderly.
2. Duration
 Tension headache -often has long duration.
 Headache due to expanding of intracranial disease – usually short
duration.
 Headache due to meningeal cause – acute in onset.
 Migraine headache – recur over a long period of time, with symptoms
free interval between attacks
3. Location
 As a general rule localized headache is of greater significance than
diffuse headache.
 Tension headache – typically generalized, band like or bi-occipital.
 Migraine with aura – often unilateral & frequently more prominent
interiorly.
 Migraine without aura – frequently bilateral.
 Cluster headache – invariably limited to the same side of the head in
any given attacks & usually periorbital.

14. DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH OF HEADACHE
HISTORY:
4. Prodromal symptoms
 Migraine headache – commonly precede by systemic complaints as
euphoria, anorexia, nausea.
 Migraine headache – often precede by neurological symptoms as
scintillating scotoma, transient hemianopias, hemimotor or hemisensory
disturbance & dysphasia.
5. Associated symptoms
 Tension headache – often associated with other psycho-physiologic
disturbances.
 Cluster headache – typically associated with ipsilateral lacrimation,
Conjunctival injection, Rhinorrhoea, & Facial Flushing.
6. Quality of pain




Tension headache – Pressing, Squeezing, Tight or Heavy.
Migraine headache – Throbbing or Pounding.
Headache due to intracranial lesion – Relatively Mild.
Acute SAH- Pain tends to be explosive & intense.

15. DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH OF HEADACHE
HISTORY:
8. Frequency, duration & diurnal variation
 Tension headache – often persist & may worsen as the day progress.
 Migraine headache – the frequency is variable & unpredictable. Although
usual variation is from 4 - 72 hrs, they may persist for days.
 Cluster headache – occur repetitively over a period of weeks or months.
Often there are 1 or 2 attacks daily. The headache typically nocturnal & of
brief duration (30 min to a few hours).
9. Family History
 Migraine headache – strong family history.
 Cluster headache – are not familial.
10. Intracranial Mass Lesion –
 Associated symptoms are more prominent than headache. Some
intra-cerebral lesion may exhibit seizure or vomiting.
11. Cranial arteritis
 Systemic symptoms as fever, anorexia & rheumatic symptoms.
12.Tension headache & Vascular Headache
 Induced or aggravated by emotional factors.
 Intraventricular & posterior fossa tumour – may be accentuated by
change in the head position, coughing & Valsalva maneuver

17. 1. General physical examination:
 Flushed face, lacrimation, and unilateral rhinorrhoea –
cluster headache.
 Systemic sign (fever, weight loss, anaemia) – infectious
disease, specific infection of CNS, metastatic disease of brain
&/or meninges.
2. Neurological examination:
 No neurological abnormality – tension headache.
 Evidence of cerebral ischaemia – small percentage of
migraine (permanent residual damage).
 Horner’s syndrome – sometimes during migraine
headache(rarely permanent).
 Localizing sign – expanding ICSOL.
 Papilloedema -  ICP due to ICSOL.
 Bruits over the eyes/cranium – vascular malformation.
 Sign of meningeal irritation – lesion affecting the
meninges.

18. RED FLAGS
SITUATION
Age > 50 Yrs
DIFFERRENTIAL
WORK UP
Temporal Artritis, SOL
ESR, Imaging
Sudden Onset
SAH, Pitutary Apoplexy, Mass Lesion,
Hemorrhage into a mass lesion, Aneurysm
Rupture.
Neuroimaging, L.P
Increasing in Frequency &
Severity
Subdural Hematoma, SOL, Med Over Use
Neuroimaging, Med Screening
New Onset Headache in a
Pt with Risk Factors ie
HIV, Cancer
Meningitis, Brain Abscess, Metastases
Headache with Sign of
Systemic Illness Fever,
Neck Rigidity
Meningitis, Encephalitis, Lyme Disease,
Collagen Vascular Disease, Systemic Infection
Neuroimaging, L.P
Serology
Focal Neurological Signs
SOL, Stroke, Infarction, Collagen Vascular
Disease
Neuroimaging, Collagenvascular
evaluation Incl Antiphospholipid
antibodies.
Papilledema
SOL, BIH, Meningitis
Neuroimaging, L.P
Subsequent to Trauma
IC Hemorrhage, Sub/Epi dural Hematoma,Post
Trauma Headache
Neuroimaging of Skull, Brain & C Spine
Age < 20 Yrs
“”

19. DIAGNOSIS
•Accurate history taking is fundamental
•Need for further investigation is
determined by red flag symptoms
•Or symptoms that do not corresponding
to a recognized primary headache pattern

21. INVESTIGATIONS
• FBC & ESR.
• X-Ray Skull, Paranasal Sinuses, Cervical Spine.
• CT Scan of the head.
• MRI of the Brain.
• Eye & ENT Evaluation.
• Cardiologic & Renal Evaluation.

22. INDICATIONS FOR SCAN
• First or worst headache, particularly if of sudden onset.
• Headache of increasing frequency or severity.
• Increased frequency of vomiting and headache on waking.
• Headache triggered by coughing, straining or postural changes.
• Persistent physical symptoms or signs after attack (neurological or
endocrine)
• Meningism, Confusion, Impairment of Consciousness or Seizures.

24. NONPHARMACOLOGIC APPROACHES TO
TREATMENT OF TENSION-TYPE HEADACHE
• Regulation of lifestyle
Maintain regular sleep schedule
Eat regular meals, Avoid known dietary triggers
Get regular aerobic exercise
•
•
Minimization of emotional stressors
Plan ahead and avoid stressful situations
Consider individual or family psychotherapy
Avoidance of environmental precipitants
Wear sunglasses
Avoid smoke, strong odors, and noisy areas
Maintain proper posture; limit sustained positions
• Physical therapy techniques
Heat, ice, ultrasound, TENS
• Massage or cervical traction
Stretching and strengthening exercises for cervical musculature
Trigger point stretching, compression,

25. Pharmacologic treatment of tension-type headache
Abortive therapy
Simple analgesics without caffeine
Simple analgesic combinations with caffeine
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Muscle relaxants with or without an analgesic
combination
Narcotic analgesics
Prophylactic therapy
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Tricyclic antidepressants
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

26. CLUSTER HEADACHE
Contd..
 Treatment:
Inhalation of 100% O2 for 10 – 15 minutes.
Intranasal lidocaine/sumatriptane.
Prophylaxis –
Ergotamine – before anticipatory attacks.
Prednisolone – 75 mg/day for 3 days then reducing
the at 3 days interval.
Verapamil – upto 480 mg/day.
Lithium – 600 to 900 mg/day.
Methysergide.


27. Temporal arteritis/giant cell arteritis:
Age – older patients (>50 yrs).
Site – uni/bilateral & is located temporally in 50% patients.
Character – dull & boring with superimposed lancinating
Appears gradually over a few hours before peak intensity
Worse at night & is often aggravated by exposure to cold.
Associated with polymyalgia rheumatica, jaw claudication,
fever & weight loss.
Scalp tenderness . Temporal artery & less commonly
occipital artery may be tender.
ESR - .
Temporal artery biopsy – diagnostic.
Treatment – prednisolone 80 mg daily for 4-6 wks.

28. POTENTIAL TRIGGERS OF TENSIONTYPE HEADACHE
•
Stress (eg, everyday hassles, family crises, heavy workloads, unpleasant work or social
situations)
•
Change in sleep regimen (eg, shift work, oversleeping)
•
Skipping meals
•
Certain foods (eg, caffeine, alcohol, cheese, chocolate)
•
Physical exertion