Headaches, Dizziness, & Stroke (Exam 3) Flashcards
What is the ddx for hitting head?
-fracture
-subdural or epidural hematoma
-post concussion syndrome
What is the ddx for hitting head and losing consciousness?
post concussion syndrome
What is the ddx for hitting head and having difficulty with memory, walking, or talking?
subdural hematoma
What is the ddx for headache with meds?
side effect or withdrawal
headache with med thats supposed to relive headache=
rebound effect (overdose or misuse of med)
What is ddx for older person with new headache?
-tumor
-temporal arteritis
-CNS vascular event
What is the ddx for older person with new headache throbbing at the temples?
temporal arteritis (also called giant cell arteritis, inflammation of temporal arteries)
What is the ddx for person with new headache at the temples and vision loss?
temporal arteritis
What is the ddx for person with new headache at the temples and a complaint of deep, throbbing ache in the upper trunk (neck/shoulder) area?
temporal arteritis
What is the ddx for new headache thats lasted a few weeks?
tumor
What is ddx for new headache that gets worse when bending forward?
possible tumor, especially with no signs of sinus improvement (bc this would indicate intracranial pressure is elevated)
Headaches are often associated with disorders like….
-diabetes
-thyroid
-COPD
-HTN
-AIDS
-cancer
Which headache is this?
-severe, unilateral, orbital (or supraorbital or periorbital, or temporal) pain
-associated with rhinorrhea, lacrimation, miosis, nasal congestion, ptosis, forehead/facial sweating, or eyelid edema
-tend to occur more at night and may cycle over a few weeks or months
cluster headache
Which headache is this?
-pulsating, suboccipital headache often occurring in the mornings and subsiding throughout the day
-secondary to elevated BP
hypertensive headaches
What are the 2 types of migraine headaches?
1) migraine without aura (common migraine)
2) migraine with aura (classic migraine)
Which migraine type is most common?
migraine without aura (common migraine)
Which migraine type is this?
-unilateral, pulsatile headache that is recurrent
-not associated with visual or other neurologic signs of symptoms
migraine without aura (common migraine)
Which migraine type is this?
-unilateral throbbing headaches preceded by an aura (scotoma- blind spot surrounded by flashing lights (scintillation) or preceded by sensory changes (paresthesia, numbness, unilateral weakness, speech disturbances)
-often associated nausea and vomiting
migraine with aura (classic migraine)
Which headache is this?
-usually bilateral, often suboccipital or supraorbital frequent headache
-often worse in the afternoon or evening
-may last days to weeks
-NSAIDs help
tension type
Which headache is this?
-characterized by suboccipital and temporal dull ache
-may feel like a band or vise like compression around scalp
-typically non-pulsating
-coming from cervical spine
cervicogenic
What is the red flag SNOOP acronym for headaches?
S= systemic symptoms or illness (fever, persistent or progressive vomiting, stiff neck, cancer)
N= neurologic signs or symptoms (altered mental status, seizures, papilledema)
O= onset is new or sudden especially after age 40
O=other associated conditions, subsequent with head trauma, awakens patient from sleep, worsened with valsalvas test, etc
P= prior hx is different (different pattern, rapidly progressing in severity and or frequency)
Which meds could cause dizziness?
-blood pressure meds
-ACE inhibitors
-beta blockers
-calcium channel blockers
-diuretics
What are the red flags of dizziness?
-recent trauma (closed head trauma/ concussion)
-loss of consciousness
-ataxia
-focal neurologic deficit
-accompanying headache and/or neck pain
-severe continuous symptoms for over 1 hour
What are the 4 general categories of dizziness?
test q
1) vertigo (false sensation of movement of self or environment)
2) syncope or presyncope “faintness”
3) disequilibrium (feeling of imbalance or unsteadiness)
4) light-headedness (may be associated with hyperventilation or psychogenic)