Neurology - 1 South Prospect Street
Headache is pain anywhere on the head. Everyone suffers from headaches from time to time, and not all of them require medical attention. However, headaches can serve as warning signals of more serious disorders.
Headache: What You Need to Know
Technology
Our team uses the latest, most advanced technology to treat headaches. You will benefit from our advanced facility that includes a nationally accredited non-invasive diagnostic laboratory, where we perform sophisticated imaging tests such as CT scans or MRI of the head.
Personalized Care
There are a wide range of types of headaches. Our job is to focus on you to determine what is causing your pain and to help you feel better faster.
Experienced, Trusted Expertise
The University of Vermont Medical Group's Headache Clinic offers specialists in headache diagnosis and treatment. Areas of expertise include migraine headaches, atypical vascular headaches and other facial pains.
What is a Headache?
Headaches may be in one spot on the head, spread out, or feel like someone is squeezing your head from both sides. The pain may be sharp, dull or throbbing. Sometimes a headache comes on gradually; sometimes suddenly, and they may last less than an hour or for several days.
Patients experiencing recurring headaches or migraine headaches, characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head, an upset stomach and at times disturbed vision, should seek treatment.
There are two main types of headaches and they are typically classified by cause:
Primary headaches
- Migraine headaches
- Cluster headaches
- Tension headaches (also called tension-type headaches)
- Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia (TAC), including cluster headache and paroxysmal hemicranias
- Chronic daily headaches
- Cough headaches
- Exercise headaches
- Hypnic headaches: headaches that wake you up at night
- Sex headaches
Secondary headaches
- Arterial tears: carotid or vertebral dissections
- Blood clot (venous thrombosis) within the brain - separate from stroke
- Brain aneurysm - a bulge in an artery in your brain
- Brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) - an abnormal formation of brain blood vessels
- Brain tumor
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Chiari malformation - structural problem at the base of your skull)
- Concussion
- Encephalitis - brain inflammation
- Giant cell arteritis - inflammation of the lining of the arteries
- Glaucoma
- Hangovers
- Ice cream headaches - commonly called brain freeze
- Influenza (flu)
- Intracranial hematoma - blood vessel ruptures in the brain
- Medications to treat other disorders
- Meningitis - inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Overuse of pain medication
- Post-concussive syndrome
- Pressure from tight-fitting headgear, such as a helmet or goggles
- External compression headaches
- Pseudotumor cerebri - increased pressure inside the skull
- Sinus inflammation and congestion
- Spinal headaches - caused by low levels of cerebrospinal fluid, possibly the result of trauma, spinal tap or spinal anesthesia
- Stroke
- Trigeminal neuralgia - disruption of the nerve connecting the face and brain
Some primary headaches can be caused by lifestyle factors, including:
- Alcohol, particularly red wine
- Certain foods, such as processed meats that contain nitrates
- Sleep changes or lack of sleep
- Poor posture
- Skipping meals
- Stress
Headache Diagnosis and Treatment
The University of Vermont Medical Group's Headache Clinic at The UVM Medical Center provides specialty evaluation and care of patients with headaches. Specific areas of interest include migraine headaches, atypical vascular headaches and other facial pains. A wide range of therapeutic options are available in the management of migraine.
The UVM Medical Center's physicians are highly trained in diagnosing and treating headaches. Our knowledgeable doctors use advanced technology to treat headaches on a regular basis.
Learn more about headache diagnosis and treatments.
For more information, call 802-847-4589.
