Red Rake
What is a Primary Headache
chronic, benign, idiopathic reoccurring headache
What is a secondary headache?
headache due to underlaying pathology
What is a New Headache?
Its new, or its old but getting worse all of the sudden.
What is an Aura and what is an example of an aura?
neurological phenomena that precede a headache
Examples include scotoma, aphasia, and hemiparesis
How would someone describe a thunderclap headache and what is the most probable cause
"the worse headache of my life"
and Subarachnoid hemorrhage
what are examples of a primary headache
migraine, tension headaches, cluster headaches, or chronic daily headaches
What are examples of things that could cause a secondary headache
viral syndrome, medication-induced, sinusitis, TMJ, meningitis, brain tumor
What is a cervicogenic headache and what are two things that could cause it?
referred headache pain that originates from the neck
1. muscle tension
2. Cervical disc disease
What does the SSNOOP acronym stand for, and what does it help you identify?
Systemic symptoms, Systemic disease, Neurological symptom, Onset sudden, onset after 40 years old, Previous headache history
It helps you identify if secondary headache may have a more serious cause.
What might cause a headache with vision loss and temple pain?
Giant cell arteritis, acute closure glaucoma
What might cause a headache with disequilibrium, vertigo, and focal neurological symptoms?
CVA or brain tumor
What might cause a headache with confusion and memory loss?
brain tumor, brain abscess or encephalitis
What might cause a headache with neck stiffness and fever
Meningitis
what are the 4 most common causes of a headache in the emergency department?
1. viral syndrome
2. tension headache
3. migraine
4. Sinusitis
What are some more serious causes of a headache?
-Cervicogenic headache
-post-traumatic headache
-hypertesnive emergency
-subarachnoid hemorrhage
-brain tumor
-Giant cell arteritis
-benign intracranial HTN
-brain abscess
-carotid or vertebral artery dissection
-stroke
-carbon monoxide poisoning
What type of headache is located bilaterally, or in a halo-pattern, is described as a steady pressing sensation, can last 30 mins -7 days and you can experience scalp tenderness, photophobia, panophobia. Hint: it gets worse with stress and muscle tension
Tension headache
What type of headache is caused by neuronal dysfunction, shows up unilaterally as a throbbing or aching sensation, comes on fast and lasts 4-72 hours, and is associated with N/V, photophobia, photophobia, and gets worse with eating chocolate, cheese, or alcohol
Migraine headache
What type of headache is felt over one eye, is a sharp, continuous, intense pain that lasts 15 mins - 3 hours, and can be seen with unilateral lacrimation, rhinorrhea, miosis, ptosis and eyelid edema
Cluster headache
*** it most likely has a serious cause
What type of headache happens when you have another headache and take meds for it but when the meds wear off you get a worse headache?
Hint: it can occur with acetaminophen overdose
Analgesic rebound
What type of headache is described as a severe steady throbbing that starts rapidly and in some cases lasts until it is treated with meds?
Meningitis headache
fact: viral will last under a week but bacterial cause will last until treated
What type of headache is very severe, with a sudden onset, and lasts days? it is also associated with N/V, loss of consciousness, and neck pain.
Subarachnoid headache
What type of headache is often located around the temporal area with generalized persistent throbbing, and associated with tenderness of the temporal area, jaw pain, VISION LOSS, and gets worse with the movement of the neck and shoulders?
GIANT CELL ARTERITIS
What type of headache is dull, aching, constant, and can last up to a year with feelings of drowsiness, poor concentration, memory loss, blurred vision, and fatigue and gets worse with physical activity
(hint: it can occur you hit your head hard)
Post-concussion headache
What are the ALARM SYMPTOMS of a headache
(hint: there are a buttload)
-Weight loss
-Eye pain
-thunderclap headache
-new onset after 50
-progressive headache over weeks to months
-Diplopia
-Hemiparesis
-Aphasia
-Hx of malignancy, HIV, or neurosurgery
-wakes you up at night
-worse at work
-worse with Valsalva
-confusion or memory loss
-vision loss and temple pain
-disequilibrium, vertigo, and focal neuro sxs
-neck stiffness and fever
What type of headache can sometimes run in families?
Migraines