Headache

Headache

Almost everyone will have a headache at some point in their life, but fortunately, most headaches (even bad ones) aren't serious.

The most common types of headache are tension headache — most ‘ordinary’ headaches are of this type — and migraine (which has very distinct symptoms). Cluster headache is a rare but very painful type of headache that almost always only affects men.

Find out more about the symptoms of the different types of headache and how they are treated in our headache knowledge hub.

Information for health professionals  

Headache is common. Global 1–year prevalence data show that about one in two people will experience a headache: four in 10 of these will have a tension-type headache and one in 10 will have a migraine.  The NPS program Headaches — safe diagnosis, effective management covers current guidance for health professionals on managing headaches, including:

  • how to establish a diagnosis for different types of headaches
  • how to manage headaches effectively
  • place in therapy of non-drug treatment options.

Latest information - headache

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Content type:

Radiation risks in children
(Medical test)
23 May 2013 – Learn about medical imaging in children and radiation exposure and useful information about risks.
Headache diary
(Consumer publication)
07 Dec 2012 – Learn how recording information in a headache diary can help your doctor to diagnose and treat your headache.
Case study 74: Recurring headache
(Health professional development)
27 Nov 2012 – Isabella has recurring headaches. She is a 28-year-old mother of 3 young children who complains of �severe migraine�, she looks tired and appears to be at the end of her tether.
What is medication overuse headache?
(Consumer publication)
27 Nov 2012 – Find out about how treating headaches with medicines on every occasion can lead to a condition known as medication overuse headache.
About Clinical Audit: Headache
For health professionals (Health professional development)
27 Nov 2012 – This clinical audit will assist you in the diagnosis, management and prevention of problematic headaches
Headache diary
(Condition)
15 Nov 2012 – People with troublesome headache can record their headaches to help with diagnosis and discussions with their health professional
Medicines and treatments
(Condition)
15 Nov 2012 – Find out about migraine headache treatments including medicine and non-medicine options
Headache diary (editable)
(Condition)
15 Nov 2012 – Keep track of your headaches with this diary. You can print it or edit it on your computer.
Tension-type headache
(Condition)
15 Nov 2012 – Find out about tension-type headache, including the causes, triggers, symptoms and signs, and diagnosis treatment including medicine and non-medicine options. Useful links and resources.
Medicines and treatment
(Condition)
15 Nov 2012 – Find out about medicine and non-medicine options for treating tension-type headache.
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