What it means
One of the most common symptoms. Most headaches are primary, with no other disease behind them, such as tension headaches, migraines and cluster headaches. Secondary headaches come from another cause, such as fever, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, high blood pressure, a head injury, infection or bleeding in the brain.
For the nurse
Ask about the onset, location, quality, severity and what makes it better or worse. Report at once a sudden, severe "worst headache of my life", or a headache with a stiff neck, fever, confusion, weakness or vision changes.
At a glance
| Spanish | dolor de cabeza, cefalea |
|---|---|
| Also written | headaches, cephalalgia |
Related terms
intracranial pressure
The pressure inside the skull, made by the brain, the blood and the fluid around the brain.
photophobia
Discomfort or pain in the eyes caused by light; sensitivity to light.
subarachnoid hemorrhage
Bleeding into the fluid-filled space between the two inner layers of tissue that cover the brain.