Headache

Question 1

Tension headache: key symptoms (1)

Answer 1

Pressure and pain surrounding the head
(no nausea, no aura)

Question 2

Tension headache: extra questions (4)

Answer 2

Pain behind the eye?
Nausea?
Aura? (predictable or not)
Affecting daily activities?

Question 3

Tension headache: causes (3)

Answer 3

Stress
Dehydration
Lack of sleep

Question 4

Tension headache: explanation of diagnosis

Answer 4

Common condition where you experience mild pain in the head, lasting for a short period of time

Question 5

Tension headache: 1st line treatment (drug, dose)

Answer 5

Paracetamol: painkiller
1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours. No more than 8 in 24 hours

Question 6

Migraine: key symptoms (6)

Answer 6

Throbbing on one side of the head lasting 1-72 hours
Pain behind the eyes
Neck pain
Sensitivity to light and sound
Aura (preceding visual and sensory changes)
Nausea and vomiting

Question 7

Migraine: extra questions (2)

Answer 7

Is it affecting daily activities
Do activities make them worse

Question 8

Migraine: causes (4)

Answer 8

Stress
Hormonal changes
Dehydration
Lack of sleep

Question 9

Migraine: explanation of diagnosis

Answer 9

Common but more severe form of headache caused by varying reasons, often exeprienced with nausea and sensitivity to light

Question 10

Migraine: 1st-line assume paracetamol and ibuprofen have been tried (product, how it works, dose)

Answer 10

Migraleve: paracetamol + codeine (stronger pain killers)
Yellow: just for pain, 2 tablets every 4 hours as required
Pink: pain plus nausea and vomiting (bluclizine, antihistamine that reduces effect of nausea from histamine) 2 tablets at onset

Question 11

Cluster headache: key symptoms (5)

Answer 11

Severe, one-sided pain and around the eye lasting up to 3 hours up to 8 times a day
Irritation of the eye
Congestion
Sweating
Occurs in cyclical patterns over weeks to months

Question 12

Cluster headache: causes

Answer 12

Release of chemicals in the brain although exact cause is not known

Question 13

Headache: lifestyle (6)

Answer 13

Identify and remove triggers (stress, sleep, dehydration)
Drink plenty of water, 8 glasses per day
Fresh air
Quiet palces
Non-drug therapy such as massages or acupuncture
Cold packs

Question 14

Headache: referral

Answer 14

Cluster headaches
Medication use/ withdrawal causes
Severe trauma
More than 15 days per month