Headaches Flashcards
What are red flag features suggesting a serious underlying cause?
Fever, photophobia or neck stiffness
New neurological symptoms
Visual disturbance
Sudden onset occipital headache
Worse on coughing or straining
Postural, worse on standing lying, bending over
Vomiting
History of trauma
History of cancer
Pregnancy
What are tension headaches associated with?
Stress
Depression
Alcohol
Skipping meals
Dehydration
What is management of chronic tension headaches?
amitriptyline
What are causes of secondary headaches?
Infections
OSA
Pre-eclampsia
Head injury
CO poisoning
What is a hormonal headache? How do they present?
Related to low oestrogen
Unilateral pulsatile headache associated with headache
When do hormonal headaches occur?
2 days before and first 3 days of menstrual period
Perimenopausal period
Early pregnancy
What are treatment options of hormonal headache?
Triptans
NSAIDs e.g. mefanamic acid
What is cervical spondylosis ?
Condition caused by degenerative changes in the cervical spine causing neck pain
What is trigeminal neuralgia?
Intense facial pain in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve
What does trigeminal neuralgia have a strong association with?
MS
What are the characteristics of features of trigeminal neuralgia?
Sudden onset
Lasts seconds to hours
Electricity like shooting, stabbing burning pain
Triggered by touch, eating etcW
What is the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia?
Carbamezapine
