title: Advances in understanding the pathophysiology of headache.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests that migraine may not be due to vasoconstriction followed by reactive vasodilation, and tension-type headache may not be due to excess muscle contraction. The prodromes of migraine may have a hypothalamic origin, and the aura and changes in cognition may have a cortical neuronal origin. The pain of migraine and tension-type headache may be generated centrally or enhanced or generated by neurogenic inflammation. Drugs used to treat headache frequently interact with serotonin receptor subtypes: abortive drugs at the 5-HT1 receptor and preventive drugs at the 5-HT2 receptor.
authors.affiliation: University School of Medicine, Germantown Hospital and Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Silberstein
mesh_terms: D006261:Headache / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D014653:Vascular Headaches / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin