Headache and Acute Stroke

Disorders associated with prominent headaches, such as migraine with aura and cerebral arterial and venous diseases, increase the risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Central nervous system vasculitis, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, and cerebral venous thrombosis are all disorders associated with severe or persistent headache in which the risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke is increased. Hemorrhagic strokes, more frequently than ischemic strokes, present with distinct headaches, usually accompanied by focal neurological symptoms. Pregnancy, and especially the postpartum period, is a time of overlap between new-onset headache and stroke risk.