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Review
. 2022 Oct;26(10):767-774.
doi: 10.1007/s11916-022-01079-x. Epub 2022 Sep 5.

The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System in Headache: Biomarkers and Treatment

Richard Gevirtz  1
Affiliations
Review

The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System in Headache: Biomarkers and Treatment

Richard Gevirtz. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose of review: In this review, the role of the autonomic nervous system in tension-type headache and migraine is reviewed.

Recent findings: A pathophysiological model for tension-type headache is proposed that is compatible with most physiological and behavioral literature. A treatment protocol is described that follows from this model. For migraine, incorporating autonomic factors into the pathophysiology offers rationales for behavioral interventions that have been shown to be useful in migraine treatment and a biofeedback protocol is proposed.

Keywords: Autonomic nervous system; Biofeedback; Headache.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author does not have existing conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A proposed model for the pathophysiology of tension-type headache
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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