Headaches Attributed to Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cerebrovascular Diseases
• Headache Disorders

Background:

• Headaches are frequently associated with ischemic strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
• These headaches are often overlooked, leading to underdiagnosis of cerebrovascular disease.
• Understanding the characteristics of stroke-related headaches is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on headaches attributed to ischemic stroke and TIAs.
• To highlight the prevalence, clinical features, and diagnostic challenges of these headaches.
• To identify gaps in knowledge regarding management and prognosis.

Main Methods:

• This study is a narrative review of existing literature.
• Relevant studies were identified and synthesized to provide an overview of the topic.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of headache in ischemic stroke ranges from 7.4% to 34%; in TIAs, it ranges from 26% to 36%.
• Headache attributed to ischemic stroke is more common in younger patients, migraineurs, and those with larger or posterior circulation/cortical infarcts; less common in lacunar infarcts.
• The typical pattern is mild to moderate bilateral pain, often with concurrent focal neurological deficits, and typically improves over time.

Conclusions:

• Headaches associated with ischemic stroke are frequent and often resemble tension-type headaches.
• The frequency and characteristics vary based on stroke etiology.
• Further research is needed on pain management, prophylactic treatments, and detailed characteristics of these headaches.