Lancet neurology
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Cervicogenic headache is characterised by pain referred to the head from the cervical spine. Although the International Headache Society recognises this type of headache as a distinct disorder, some clinicians remain sceptical. ⋯ In this Review, we outline the basic science and clinical evidence for cervicogenic headache and indicate how opposing approaches to its definition and diagnosis affect the evidence for its clinical management. We provide recommendations that enable a pragmatic approach to the diagnosis and management of probable cervicogenic headache, as well as a rigorous approach to the diagnosis and management of definite cervical headache.
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Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide and is the complication of hypertension that is most directly linked to blood pressure. Hypertension affects nearly 30% of the world's population; therefore, reducing blood pressure is key for the prevention of stroke. Unlike the established role of hypertension as a risk factor for stroke, the prognostic importance of blood pressure in determining outcome after acute stroke is unclear. ⋯ The evidence that decreasing blood pressure in hypertensive patients with acute ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke improves prognosis needs further confirmation. Whether raising blood pressure to improve perfusion of ischaemic brain areas is beneficial remains even more uncertain. Present guidelines for the management of blood pressure in patients with acute stroke are not evidence-based, but results from ongoing trials might provide more informed recommendations for the future.