PC 617 Modules 7,8,9 - Sheet1 Flashcards
Percentage of adults that report recurrent headaches
80-90%
Headaches and primary care
Rank as one of the 10 most common presenting problems
Classifications of headaches
Tension, vascular, analgesic rebound, traction/inflammation (secondary)
Tension headaches
More prevalent than migraines; produce little disability and are generally effectively managed with OTC medications; rarely seen in primary care
Length of tension headaches
Episodic and can last 30 minutes to hours
Description essentials of tension headaches
At least 2 of 4 - bilateral; steady and nonpulsatile; mild to moderate intensity (may prohibit but not inhibit activity); not aggravated by routine activity
Tension headaches and nausea
Should not be present
Tension headache and aura symptoms
There can be photophobia or phonophobia but not both
Tension headaches and underly disease
Should be no evidence that accounts for the headache
Migraine without aura
Common migraine
Length of migraine without aura
Lasts 4-12 hours
Characteristics of migraine without aura
Must have 2 of the following - unilateral head pain; throbbing; moderate to severe intensity; pain aggravated by routine activity; N and/or V; photophobia and phonophobia
Migraine with aura
Classic migraine
Prevalence of migraine with aura
Occurs in approximately 15% of migraine attaches
Occurrance of aura with migraine
Generally precede headache by less than 1 hours but may occur durring headache
Characteristics of most auras
Most are visual, ie flashes of light, alternating geometric patterns, alterations in perception - the “Alice in Wonderland” syndrome
Somatosensory auras
Consist primarily of numbness and tingling in the lips and fingers although they can occur anywhere
Phases of migraines
Preheadache or premonitory; headache phase; and postheadache or prostdrome
Preheadache or premonitory
Prodrome is far more common than aura; involves changes in mood or energy level (depression, euphoria, fatigue), alteration in sensory processing, changes in muscle tone, food cravings, fluid retention, yawning and a variety of other nondescript symptoms; probably reflect the chemical milieu of the CNS
Chocolates as a trigger
Traditionally considered a potent migraine trigger, but research has shown it is reflected carbohydrate cravings and was a prodrome and not a trigger
Importance of prodromes
Become important markers for the timing of treatment
Headache phase
Begins mild and progresses from mild to severe over 30 minutes to several hours; can be unilateral or bilateral
Duration of migraine with auras in children and adolescents
Usually less than 4 hours
Duration of migraine with auras in children and adolescents
Usually last 4-72 hours, but menstrual migraines may last longer