Study Guide: GRADED A+.
Questions and Verified
Answers. Latest 2026 Update
What are the three main types of headaches? - Ans✔✔-Migraine, Tension,
Cluster
Steps to Pain Assessment - Ans✔✔-Provoking
Quality
Radiation
Severity
Time
Provoking - Ans✔✔-has anything made it better or worse
Quality - Ans✔✔-Sharp, dull, achy, throbbing
Radiation - Ans✔✔-Does it radiate to another part of the body
,Severity - Ans✔✔-Pain scale, 1-10 scale, intense pain, Other symptoms: N/V,
photophobia
Time - Ans✔✔-how long has it been going on? how long does it usually last?
Tension Headache - Ans✔✔-Bandlike, tightness
Describe a Migraine - Ans✔✔-Unilateral, supra and retro orbital, pulsating or
throbbing, worse with movement, sensitivity with light and sounds
Cluster - Ans✔✔-Lancinationg or stabbing, 5-30 minutes. Extreme pain
Migraine Pathophysiology - Ans✔✔-Pathophysiology - Not entirely clear.;
theories?
Prevalence: May be seen in children and adults; Among children more common
in boys; among adults more common in women.
History of patient with migraine: Otherwise healthy, usually female in 30's
Individualized triggers (stress, smells, foods, hormones, menses)
Tyramine rich foods- chocolate, cheeses, beer, wine, cigar, sweet and low.
Treatment for Migraine - Ans✔✔-Vasoconstriction works the best, irritation of
the 5th cranial nerve, Estrogen hormone can causes migraines.
Migraine Manifestations - Ans✔✔-Manifestations
Pain: Usually unilateral, supra/retro-orbital, pulsating. Worse with movement.
Accompanied by non-h/a symptoms: N/V, photophobia, phonophobia,
,Aura: (20% of cases):
Migraine Interventions - Ans✔✔-Pain management
Symptom management
Ex. Pitch black, turn off all the lights, N/V causes dehydration
Migraine Drug Therapy - Ans✔✔-APAP/Caffeine/ Butabital (Fioricet)
NSAIDS : Naprosyn
CCBs and Beta- Blockers (Preventative therapy) : Verapamil
Triptans and ergotamine's: Sumatriptan and Cafergot
Anticonvulsants (Preventative therapy): Topiramate
Botox Injections (monthly)
Magnesium
Migraine Complementary and alternative therapies - Ans✔✔-Acupuncture,
Yoga, Stress reduction activities, Supplemental mag, Distraction sometimes
works.
Pound acronym - Ans✔✔-P:Pulsating
O:Duration
U: Unilateral location
N: N/V
D: Disabling
, Epilepsy - Ans✔✔-Chronic disorder with two or more seizures experienced by
the client.
Epilepsy Assessment - Ans✔✔-Inquire about the seizure activity, frequency,
precipitating factors, aura (pre-ictal phase).
Family history
Collateral medical conditions (hx stroke, HTN, TBI, drug/alcohol abuse)
Seizure risk factors - Ans✔✔-V: Vascular
I: Infection or Inherited conditions
T: Trauma
A: Alzheimers/Autoimmune
M: Metabolic derangements
I: Idiopathic
N: Neoplasm
S: pSychiatric
Epilepsy Triggers - Ans✔✔-Sleep deprivation
Stress
Alcohol/ Alcohol Withdrawl
MSG
pg 878 Chart 42-9
Aura - Ans✔✔-Seizures often preceded by an aura; it is unique to that patient,
not every patient has them.