Headache

In medicine a headache or cephalalgia is a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head. Some of the causes are benign while others are medical emergencies.

What is a Headache?

Headache is a common health complaint that affects millions of people in the UK. In the majority of cases, headache is not serious and can be easily treated with medication or lifestyle changes such as reducing stress or ensuring a good level of hydration.

Types of Headaches

Headache Causes and Triggers

Using a Headache Diary

What is Sinus Headache?

What is Tension Headache?

What is Vascular Headache?

What is a Cluster Headache?

What is Muscle Contraction Headache?

What is Medication Overuse Headache?

Headache Behind the Eyes: Understanding the Causes

Can Contact Lenses Cause Headaches?

See more featured articles »

Headaches in Children

Headache Related to Eye Problems

Headaches in Children and Teenagers

Headache Evaluation in Children and Teenagers

Body Posture and Migraines

Migraine with Aura vs. Migraine without Aura

Biofeedback Therapy for Headaches

Frequent Headaches after a Traumatic Brain Injury

Does the Location of a Headache Matter?

Cluster Headaches: Treatment and Prevention

Latest Headache News and Research

Trial shows moderate reduction in respiratory symptoms with surgical face masks

Wearing a surgical face mask in public spaces reduces the risk of self-reported respiratory symptoms, finds a trial of adults in Norway published by The BMJ today.

25 Jul 2024

High belly and arm fat linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's risk

People with high levels of body fat stored in their belly or arms may be more likely to develop diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's than people with low levels of fat in these areas, according to a study published in the July 24, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

24 Jul 2024

Evaluation and treatment of early Lyme disease

Every year in the United States, an estimated 476,000 people are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease. The estimate comes from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

23 Jul 2024

Studies aim to identify adolescent girls who are at risk of developing migraine headaches

A migraine is not just a bad headache. It is a much-dreaded part of a neurologic disorder that has an array of possible symptoms, including pulsating cranial pain, waves of queasiness, bouts of vomiting, and hypersensitivity to light and sound.

22 Jul 2024

Concussions in retired rugby players linked to higher neurodegenerative disease biomarkers

A study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences reveals that retired rugby players with a history of concussions exhibit significant differences in biomarkers associated with neurodegenerative diseases compared to non-contact sports participants.

21 Jul 2024

Semaglutide and very-low calorie diet combo shows superior results in managing type 2 diabetes

A study from the University of Nottingham shows that combining Semaglutide with a very-low calorie diet significantly improves weight loss and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients.

8 Jul 2024

Algorithm could identify drug-resistant bacteria from microscopy images

Artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to identify drug resistant infections, significantly reducing the time taken for a correct diagnosis, Cambridge researchers have shown.

8 Jul 2024

Innovative research sheds light on migraine mechanisms and potential therapies

New research describes for the first time how a spreading wave of disruption and the flow of fluid in the brain triggers headaches, detailing the connection between the neurological symptoms associated with aura and the migraine that follows.

4 Jul 2024

New signaling pathway identified in aural migraine headaches

The rapid influx of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and protein solutes released during cortical spreading depression (CSD) in the brain activates neurons to trigger aural migraine headaches, according to a new mouse study.

4 Jul 2024

Inflammation in early adulthood may be linked to memory and thinking problems at middle age

Having higher levels of inflammation in your 20s and 30s may be linked to having memory and thinking problems at middle age, according to a study published in the July 3, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

3 Jul 2024

People are commonly given misleading information about depression, study shows

A recent Finnish study shows that people are commonly given misleading information about depression. According to the researchers, the inaccurate information makes it harder for people to understand the causes of their distress.

28 Jun 2024

Moderate physical activity may be linked to reduced risk of ALS later in life

Moderate levels of physical activity and fitness may be linked to a reduced risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) later in life, according to a new study published in the June 26, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

26 Jun 2024

Atogepant may decrease the risk of developing rebound headache in people with migraine

A drug used to prevent migraine may also be effective in people with migraine who experience rebound headaches, according to a new study published in the June 26, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

26 Jun 2024

Extended-release ketamine tablets offer new hope for treatment-resistant depression

The BEDROC trial found that extended-release ketamine tablets (R-107) significantly improve depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression patients, with the 180 mg dose showing the most efficacy. The treatment was well-tolerated with minimal side effects.

26 Jun 2024

Teleneurology offers solution to neurologist shortage

One of the first studies to examine patient acceptability of teleneurology and determine factors influencing acceptability across neurological conditions, has found teleneurology was highly acceptable across the full range of patients with different neurological diagnoses, including headache, movement disorders and other neurological symptoms and diagnoses. The study also determined that the more medical complexity -- having additional diseases -- was associated with increased patient satisfaction with teleneurology.

25 Jun 2024

Electrophysiological markers for personalizing transcranial magnetic stimulation in depression

Not all patients with depression respond to medication. Two recently published studies provide additional information on how an alternative treatment, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), could be further enhanced.

24 Jun 2024

UTHealth Houston researchers to study circadian link in severe headaches with $2.4M grant

The link between severe headache disorders headaches and the body's circadian clock in pain timing and thresholds will be studied with a $2.4 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to UTHealth Houston researchers.

21 Jun 2024

Transforming drug discovery with AI

A new AI-powered program will allow researchers to level up their drug discovery efforts.

21 Jun 2024

Multiple head injuries significantly raise ischemic stroke risk, research shows

The rate of stroke in individuals with no history of prior stroke, was 34 percent higher in individuals who experienced at least one head injury than in their peers with no head injury.

13 Jun 2024

Prolonged depression in young adults linked to cognitive decline in middle age

People who experience prolonged depressive symptoms starting in young adulthood may have worse thinking and memory skills in middle age, according to a study published in the June 12, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

12 Jun 2024