Headaches Flashcards
most important part of SOCRATES for headaches?
onset ie acute/subacute/chronic
exacerbating/relieving factors
associated symptoms
what can exacerbate a headache?
posture
sneezing
coughing
what symptoms can accompany a headache that you should ask about?
nausea and vomiting photophobia phonophobia visual disturbance nasal stuffiness
headache red flags?
>55 new onset known/previous malignancy immunosuppressed worse in early morning worse on coughing/sneezing
why should you ask if a cough/sneeze exacerbates a headache?
they raise intracranial pressure
PMH should look for…
previous cancer
are they thrombolytic?
FH should explore…
migraines
cancers
migraines are commoner in who?
young women
on average people have _ migraine attack(s) per month
1
migraine with aura is more common than without T or F
F, without aura is more common (80%_
timescale for migraine without aura?
4-72hrs
presentation of a migraine without aura
moderate-severe, throbbing
unilateral headache that is worse on movement WITH associated N&V or photo/phonophobia
pathophysiology of a migraine
stress triggers changes in the brain causing release of serotonin -> dilates BVs; substance P release causes pain
how long does an aura last?
20-60 mins
presentation of migraine with aura?
aura for up to an hour followed by a headache (can also happen at the same time)
name the different kinds of aura; what is the most common?
visual eg lights, odd smell, hallucinations
visual is most common
a central scotomata type of visual aura looks like…
a blurred dark circle in the middle of the visual field
a central fortification type of visual aura looks like…
a zigzagged circle in the middle of the visual field
hemianopic loss in a visual aura looks like…
half of the visual field is lost
migraine triggers
sleep diet stress hormones physical exertions