A Review on Headache: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Classifications, Diagnosis, Clinical Management and Treatment Modalities

With a frequency of 48.9% in the general population, headache problems are among the most prevalent of all nervous system illnesses and are a very frequent symptom. [1] People of all ages, colours and socioeconomic level can get headaches, although women are more likely to get them than males. Some headaches can be so incapacitating and detrimental to a person's quality of life that they place a tremendous financial burden on healthcare and indirectly on the economy. The majority of headache diseases may be treated without the help of a physician. A primary care by general physician may effectively treat the vast majority of patients with the right clinical diagnosis and no additional testing. Nearly 98 % of headaches are caused by primary headache disorders including migraine, tension headache, and cluster headache, but secondary headaches are very dangerous and can be fatal. The most typical headache diseases are described in this article, along with the warning signs that should prompt an immediate professional referral when they are present. In order to provide a paradigm that would work effectively in the financially strapped National Health Service (NHS) and with upcoming NHS changes, the existing pathway of headache care in the UK is explored. The British Association for the Study of Headache and patient organisations like Migraine Trust play important roles in altering the way of headache treatment which is provided in the UK by educating clinicians and the general public about headaches. The paper summarizes the evidence-based management of frequent headache diagnosis as its conclusion.