Headaches
Three types of primary headache you should be aware of: migraine, tension-type and cluster headaches.
Migraine headache is the most common and 20% are associated with aura. More common in females. Usually unilateral and throbbing and might be associated with nausea. Can be associated with familial hemiplegic migraine, retinal migraine or infarction in case of OCPs intake etiology. Other triggers include red wine, stress, sinusitis and certain food. Triptans are the drug of choice if routine pain killers don't work.
Pulsating
One to 3 days
Unilateral location
Nausea/Vomiting
Disabling intensity
Sound/light sensitivity
Tension-type headache is usually bilateral described as pressure like and usually not associated with nausea and is not modified by activity. Treat with Acetaminophen or NSAIDs. TCAs for prophylaxis.
Cluster headache is more common in males and is usually periorbital and is associated with increased lacrimation or nasal congestion. Can be very severe and associated with facial swelling.
Headaches that worse with lying down is likely sinusitis.
Worst headache of my life is usually SAH due to ruptured intracranial aneurysm.
Consider Giant cell arteritis when there is jaw claudication or temporal headache.
Headache that lasts for more than 2 weeks is chronic headache likely from mediation misuse.
Pseudotumor cerebri or Idiopathic intracranial HTN is common in overweight ladies, use of isotretinoin/OCPs/Tetracycline/hypervitaminosis A and is associated with papilledema.
Triptans can cause vasoconstriction and hence don't use it with CAD, Hemiplegic migraines and PVD.
Check this book from Oxford Clinical Neurology on Headache syndromes.
This post covers the points you need to know for your board exams as well as for teaching residents on the daily rounds. Medical professionals can't use the information here to treat their patients nor people can use the information her to treat themselves. If you are having any medical issues, contact your doctor or local emergency services.