Key result
Cardiac cephalgia can present as an isolated exertional headache without chest symptoms and resolves following coronary artery bypass surgery.
Cardiac cephalgia is a rare presentation of myocardial ischemia that can manifest solely as exertional headache and resolves with revascularization.
May prompt cardiac evaluation for unexplained exertional headache; leaves open broader applicability and revascularization benefit.
A 73-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of exertional headaches. Exercise tolerance test demonstrated progressive ischaemic changes concomitant with worsening headache. Cardiac cephalgia was diagnosed and his symptoms resolved after coronary artery bypass surgery. Cardiac cephalgia may occasionally present as exertional headache without chest symptoms.
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Shankar et al. (2016) studied this question. Cardiac cephalgia can present as an isolated exertional headache without chest symptoms and resolves following coronary artery bypass surgery.
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