Headaches

Question 1

What are the two main categories of headaches?

Answer 1

Headaches can be classified into primary headaches and secondary headaches.

Question 2

What are primary headaches?

Answer 2

Primary headaches originate from the brain itself, examples include migraines and tension headaches.

Question 3

What are secondary headaches?

Answer 3

Secondary headaches result from other conditions, such as high blood pressure or tumors, causing pain through pressure on sensitive blood vessels.

Question 4

What are 2 common symptoms of migraines?

Answer 4

nausea
sensitivity to light.

Question 5

How are tension headaches commonly treated?

Answer 5

over-the-counter medications and home remedies.

Question 6

What characterizes cluster headaches?

Answer 6

severe pain, typically around one eye, and may require urgent care.

Question 7

What is a thunderclap headache?

Answer 7

A thunderclap headache is described as a sudden, severe headache, often likened to being hit on the head.

Question 8

What is an atypical aura?

Answer 8

An atypical aura includes symptoms such as seeing colors or experiencing severe nausea before a headache, especially in patients under 10 or over 50.

Question 9

What does progressive worsening headache indicate?

Answer 9

A progressive worsening headache is one that intensifies over time and may require medical evaluation.

Question 10

What does a headache with fever indicate?

Answer 10

A headache with fever could indicate meningitis; tests include Koenig’s sign and Brzezinski’s sign.

Question 11

What historical practice was used to treat headaches?

Answer 11

In ancient times, headaches were thought to be caused by evil spirits, leading to practices like trepanation (boring holes in the skull) to relieve pressure.

Question 12

What is crucial for assessing headaches?

Answer 12

A thorough assessment is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment path, including identifying red flags and understanding the patient’s history.

Question 13

What are the three types of headaches?

Answer 13

The three types of headaches are migraines, cluster headaches, and tension headaches.

Question 14

What are common symptoms of increased intracranial pressure?

Answer 14

Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure include pupil changes, impaired eye movements, and altered vital signs.

Question 15

What is Cushing’s Triad?

Answer 15

Cushing’s Triad is characterized by increased systolic blood pressure, decreased pulse rate, and altered respiratory patterns.

Question 16

What is a coup-contra-coup concussion?

Answer 16

A coup-contra-coup concussion occurs when the brain hits the front of the skull and then ricochets back to hit the back of the skull, often resulting in bruising at both sites.

Question 17

What are common signs of concussion?

Answer 17

Common signs of concussion include headache, loss of consciousness, and amnesia.

Question 18

What is mean arterial pressure (MAP)?

Answer 18

MAP is the average pressure in a person’s arteries during one cardiac cycle, crucial for maintaining organ perfusion.

Question 19

How is MAP calculated?

Answer 19

MAP is calculated using the formula:

MAP = (2 × Diastolic BP + Systolic BP) / 3.

Question 20

What are signs of increased intracranial pressure?

Answer 20

Signs include decreased level of consciousness, headache with vomiting, and fixed and dilated pupils.

Question 21

What does decerebrate posturing indicate?

Answer 21

Decerebrate posturing, with arms extended and rotated outwards, indicates severe brain dysfunction.

Question 22

What are the types of hemorrhages related to head injuries?

Answer 22

Types of hemorrhages include subdural hemorrhage, extradural hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Question 23

What is a subdural hemorrhage?

Answer 23

A subdural hemorrhage occurs below the dura mater and above the arachnoid mater, accounting for about 5% of all head injuries.

Question 24

What is an extradural hemorrhage?

Answer 24

An extradural hemorrhage occurs outside the dura mater, often due to a blow to the head causing a fracture of the temporal bone.

Question 25

What is an intracerebral hemorrhage?

Answer 25

An intracerebral hemorrhage is bleeding within the brain tissue, often from penetrating injuries or rapid deceleration.

Question 26

What characterizes a subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Answer 26

A subarachnoid hemorrhage is characterized by sudden onset of severe headache, often described as a ‘thunderclap’ headache.

Question 27

What are the NICE guidelines for headaches?

Answer 27

The NICE guidelines emphasize the importance of a detailed history, thorough neurological assessment, and monitoring for signs of deterioration in patients with head injuries.

Question 28

What anatomical layers protect the brain?

Answer 28

The brain is protected by the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

Question 29

What symptoms indicate fluid leakage?

Answer 29

Symptoms such as rhinorrhea (leaky nose) and mastoid ecchymosis (bruising behind the ear) can indicate a skull fracture.