Management of chronic headache

Abstract

Chronic headache interrupts the lives of 10 million Americans and sends them to their physicians. The problem can be difficult to treat. Medications, for acute migraine attacks or for prevention, require careful monitoring to avoid iatrogenic headache. Most important is the history; physical examination usually shows no abnormalities. Migraine in one of its several forms accounts for two-thirds of headaches seen in doctors' offices. The International Headache Society has recently undertaken a major reclassification of headache. Dietary control, relaxation therapy, and personalized long-term care underline the breadth of treatment needed and the appropriateness of family medicine in dealing with this widespread problem.