Headache Flashcards
migraine
syndrome characterized by intermittent pounding or throbbing headache, potentially preceded by an aura
frequent association with nausea, photophobia, phonophobia and exertional worsening
subarachnoid hemmorhage
bleeding into the CSF fluid, usually due to leakage of an aneurysm or vascular malformation
tension-type headache
recurrent headache with a bilateral squeezing and pressing senation that usually does not prevent normal activity and does not significantly worsen with exertion
cluster headache
recurrent, severe headache which is unilateral and periorbital and often asociated with autonomic symptoms of tearing and nasal congestion
temporal arteritis
condition of inflammation of major cranial blood vessels–>can result in blindness or stroke depending onvessels involved
paresthesia
abnormal sensation that is not due to an external stimulus
aura
warning, prior to onset of a symptom
increased intracranial pressures do NOT
cause headaches
drainage of spinal hluid
causes low pressure headache secondary to fluid traction on venous sinuses when brain sinks towards tentorium as it loses CSF
inflammation in subarachnoid space
results in headache
lesions above tentorium produce
pain referred to trigem distributions (forehead, behind eyes) because dura in this region is supplied by trigem nerve
lesions in posterior fossa produce
pain ine ar, back of head (cn 9,10, and upper 3 cervical roots)
meningeal irritation headache
subarachnoid hemorrhage and meningitis
subarachnoid hemorrhage
sevre, sudden onset, persists, remainder of neuro exam normal
what do you do if you suspect subarachnoid hemorrhage?
do CT
if CT negative, do lumbar uncture
neoplasms
mild, nonspecific, worse in morning
focal symptoms
abscess
focal signs of mental changes often present
evidence of increased ICP
infection?
acute hydrocephalus
caused by obstructing CSF pathways (inflammation, blood, tumor)
brain dysfunction
fundi–>increased ICP
predisposing factors to intracranial hypertension
polycystic ovarian disease
high estrogen
exogengeous estrogen, vitamin a, outdated tetracycline
what helps intracranial hypertension
carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
shunting
protoypical patient for intracranial hypertension
overweight young woman
three types of vascular headaches
giant cell (temporal) arteritis
hypertensive encephalopathy
vascular malformation
giant cell temporal arteritis
systemic vasculitis
hypertensive encephalopathy
vascular malformation
giant cell temporal arteritis
systemic vasculitis that likes cranial nerves; usually in people over 50
clinical picture giant cell arteritis
1- polymyalgia rheumatic- malaise, loss of energy, proximal jt pains
2- nonspecific headaches; associated with tenderness and swelling over temporal or occipital arteries
3- evidence of arterial insufficiency in distribution of branches of cranial vessels (jaw cluadication, infarction of tongue or scalp)
external carotid insuffiency
jaw claudication or infarction of the tongue or scalp
internal carotid insuffiency
produces retina ischemia, blindness, even stroke
sed rate giant cell arteritis
very high
treatment giant cell arteritis
steroids
ddx lupus
lupus inflames systemic
to confirm after high sed rate
biopsy (bilaterally)
hypertensive encephalopathy
cerebral vasoconstriction occurs in response to systemic HTN to preserve a constant cerebral blood flow–>autoregulation
–in this, autoreg fails at parts and arteries dilate despite severe HTN (–>edema and hemorrhage)
hypertensive encephalopathy should be considered
patients with severe HTN, or preveiously normotensive patients that develop less evere HTN