Headaches

Question 1

the most common neurological disorder

Answer 1

headache

Question 2

what is a structural headache

Answer 2

brain tumor, IICP, aneurysm, infarct, stroke

Question 3

what is functional headache

Answer 3

no identifiable cause for the headache

Question 4

what is an organic headache

Answer 4

headache from a secondary issue (carbon monoxide poison, high BP)

Question 5

causes and triggers for headaches

Answer 5

stress, fatigue, alcohol

Question 6

3 headache classifications

Answer 6

cluster
migraine
tension

Question 7

are ct/mri helpful in determining cause/type of functional headache

Answer 7

no

Question 8

best determination in treatment for functional headache

Answer 8

pt hx and assessment

Question 9

most common type of headache

Answer 9

tension

Question 10

pain level w/tension headaches

Answer 10

mild to moderate pain

Question 11

with tension headaches pt. complains of what

Answer 11

rubber-band/vice-like pressure radiating to neck, shoulder, upper back muscles

Question 12

location of tension headache

Answer 12

bilateral

Question 13

how often could you get a tension headaches

Answer 13

infrequent
frequent
chronic

Question 14

what triggers tension headaches

Answer 14

vasospasm similar to migraines

Question 15

are tension headaches r/t time

Answer 15

no

Question 16

fxrs making tension headaches worse

Answer 16

sensitivity to light/sound

Question 17

duration of tension headaches

Answer 17

minutes-week

Question 18

does pt experience n/v w/tension headache

Answer 18

not usually

Question 19

dx study for tension headache

Answer 19

pt. hx and physical exam

Question 20

what type of things would we ask to do for pt w/tension headache

Answer 20

shrug shoulders, turn head side-to-side

Question 21

2 types of migraine headaches

Answer 21

migraine w/aura (prior to getting migraine)

migraine w/o aura

Question 22

s/s of migraine

Answer 22

n/v
sweat/pale
sensitive to light/sound (photophobia/phonophobia)

Question 23

pain level w/migraine

Answer 23

moderate to severe - highly debilitating

Question 24

location of migraine headache

Answer 24

uni or bi-lateral

Question 25

duration of migraine headaches

Answer 25

4-72 hrs

Question 26

pt coping w/migraines

Answer 26

hibernate (turn everything off/shut shade)

Question 27

pt describes migraine pain as

Answer 27

throbbing that matches their pulse

Question 28

cause for migraines

Answer 28

vascular (vasoconstriction to vasodilation)
deficit of serotonin
auto-immune disorders (MS)
family hx

Question 29

trt for migraines

Answer 29

imitrex

SSRI for serotonin levels

Question 30

migraine triggers

Answer 30

foods high in sugar/nitrates/MSG/aged-cheeses
red wine
fatigue/stress

Question 31

dx studies for migraines

Answer 31

pt. hx
neuro exam (cranial nerves)

Question 32

pain level w/cluster headache

Answer 32

severe pain

Question 33

duration of cluster headache

Answer 33

a few minutes

Question 34

where is the pain located during a cluster headache

Answer 34

pain around eye radiating to temple, forehead, cheeks, gums, nose

Question 35

what causes cluster headaches

Answer 35

unknown
theory (hypothalamus)
infection r/t the trigeminal nerve?
genetic
smoking/alcohol association

Question 36

are cluster headaches r/t time

Answer 36

yes, cyclical

almost always occur in the middle of the night

Question 37

are cluster headaches common

Answer 37

no - rare - more in females

Question 38

questions to ask pt when coming to ED for headache

Answer 38

is there a specific time you get these headaches

Question 39

s/s of cluster headache

Answer 39

UNILATERAL
pupil constriction
swelling around the eye
rhinitis
pallor
***pain along trigeminal nerve

Question 40

dx of cluster headache

Answer 40

ct or MRI to rule out aneurysm, pt hx/assess

Question 41

what do headache diaries help with

Answer 41

tracking (triggers, when headache occurs)