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Characteristic traits of common (tension) headache
- moderate to severe pain
- dull pressure or tightness
- tension of inflammation araising from muscles on both sides of head, eyes, neck and shoulders
- fatigue
- sensation of rigis band circling and pressing on head
- duration - 30 minutes to full week
- frequency - infrequent to daily
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Triggers for common (tension) headache
- allergies
- chemical fumes
- extreme temperatures
- dilation or constriction of cerebral blood vessels
- constipation
- coughing or laughter
- intracranial mass such as tumors or lesions
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Symptoms of common (tension) headache
- nausea/vomiting
- sensitivity to noise or light
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Treatment for common (tension) headache
- NSAIDs
- combination medication (NSAIDs combined with caffeine)
- analgesic (NSAIDs) and sedative-hypnotics (benzodiazepines, barbiturates)
- triptans
- opiates
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Preventative medications for common (tension) headache
- tricyclic antidepressants
- anticonvulsants
- muscle relaxants
- SSRI (?)
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Cluster headaches
- intense, episodic (cyclical in pattern) headache occurring suddenly
- possibly caused by vascular abnormalities
- pain usually develops at night
- no evidence of family history, however condition tends to run in families
- affects 1-4 per 1000 individuals
- middle ages men 5x more likely to be affected than women
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Main symptom of cluster headaches
- sharp, boring, severing pain developing rapidly over minutes
- located on one side, usually around or behind eye
- duration ranges from 15 to 180 minutes
- frequency varies - one or more daily for weeks; intermittent over a span of 1-3 months, subsides then recurs months or years later
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Secondary symptoms of cluster headaches
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Triggers for cluster headaches
- alcohol
- nicotine
- stress
- certain foods
- glare
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Treatment of cluster headaches
- inhaling 100% O2
- injectable or intranasal sumatriptan (Imitrex)
- intravenous, injectable or inhaled dihydroergotamine
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