Headaches Flashcards
clinical presentation of cervicogenic headaches
ipsilateral head pain that is localized to the neck and occiput; pain may radiate to the forehead, orbital region, temples, or ears; no dermatomal pattern
clinical presentation of migraine headaches
unilateral headaches with associated manifestations; onset may be also present with hormone changes, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, sonophobia, scintillating scotomas; pt can typically identify a trigger, symptoms can last several hours to days
episodic cluster headache
occurs in periods lasting from 7 days to 1 year, these clusters are separated by pain free intervals lasting at least 2 weeks
chronic cluster headache
occur for more than 1 year without remission or with remissions lasting less than 2 weeks
clinical presentation of cluster headaches
severe unilateral periorbital head pain that is “excruciating” but NOT throbbing; short duration with a frequency of every other day, nocturnal attacks, sweating, tearing, and rhinorrhea; attacks may be triggered by stress, relaxation, extreme temperature, allergic rhinitis, and exercise
clinical presentation of sinus headaches
local dull achy or pressure over the sinuses and occasionally along the teeth and/or frontal and periorbital areas; discomfort is more apparent in the morning and with flexion; may have recent history of cold, flu, or allergies; may involve any sinus area or multiple areas at once
pathologic headaches
head pain of potentially life-threatening origin
warning signs of pathologic headaches
-abrupt onset of very severe headache
-new headache in older patient
-headache due to trauma
-associated with neurologic signs
-cognitive changes
-seizures, vomiting
examination procedures for pathologic headaches
vitals, neurologic exam, mental status; CBC, WBC, ESR labs; MRI, CT
hypertension headaches
caused by fluctuation in blood pressure; presents as headache that occurs in the morning accompanied by dizziness
post-traumatic headaches
caused by subdural head bleed which occurs a few days after a head trauma; associated with concussions, contact sports, whiplash, etc.
temporal arteritis
temporal arteries become inflamed or damaged; AKA giant cell arteritis; can lead to blindness or stroke
withdrawal headaches
caused by acute substance use or exposure
ice pick headaches
sudden, stabbing pain in the face or head that feels like “being attacked by an ice pick”; arrives without warning and is short, sharp, intense for 30 sec; can recur several times a day
vertebral artery dissection (VAD)
ipsilateral facial dysesthesia (pain and numbness), dysarthria or hoarseness, contralateral loss of pain temperature sensation in the trunk and limbs, ipsilateral loss of taste, hiccups, vertigo, diplopia, dysphagia
