Medical brain notes 7

MIGRAINE, HEADACHESAND VERTIGO Headache .is the most common disease of the brain. It is said that everyone suffers from a headache at least once in his or her life while some suffer from it frequently. Headache is a common symptom but it can be serious in some cases. In 1 % patients the cause may be a brain tumor. Some people may complain of a unilateral headache, which occurs every few days or months and can be migraine. If the headache is of recent origin, then changes in daily lifestyle such as the pattern of working, eating habits or sleeping habits may also be a cause. If the headache has been there for some months then it has to be noted what prompted the patient to seek treatment. Contraceptive pills can also cause headache in some women. High blood pressure can also be one of the reasons for headache. Thus, it is very necessary for patients with headache, to undergo complete history, neurological and physical check-up and investigations. Along with headache, if the person has l...

  Migraine : Migraine is quite a widely well-known disease. During its attack the patient becomes extremely helpless and disturbed. This disease can affect 20 % of the adults with varying severity. A patient experiences this attack usually 1 to 6 times in a month on an average (or even daily). The pain can either be unilateral or bilateral (right or/and left). The pain is of a pulsating kind, which increases with exertion. Nausea, vomiting, blackouts and photophobia may accompany and it is difficult to look directly towards light. The pain may continue for 4 to 72 hours. Five such attacks are required for the diagnosis of migraine. Usually, the pain subsides after taking rest or after vomiting. Types of Migraine : i.                 Common Migraine ii.                 Classic Migraine (where symptoms related to sight or vision are ess...

  Spastic Headache This type of headache is as common as migraine. As the name suggests, headache results from spasm or tension in the muscles. Headache may be bandlike, persistent and occur almost daily. Hence the characteristics differ from migraine, Physical examination and X-ray, CT Scan etc. are usually normal. The treatment is also different from that of migraine. First and foremost it is important to define the factors causing stress and try to eliminate these. Commonly these include familial, social, financial or health problems. It is important to discuss them with patient and relatives, so as to sort out the problems. As mentioned ahead in the chapter on stress and -its management; relief from mental stress benefits the patient. Moreover, exercise, meditation, yogas also have therapeutic benefits. If required we can resort to hypnosis, autosuggestion, biofeedback etc. Appropriate treatment by a neurophysician or physician and if required psychotherapy by a psychotherapist...

  Vertigo : According to a survey, vertigo-unsteadiness is the third most common symptom after chest pain and generalized weakness fatigability in patients coming to the O.P.D. - Approximately 50% of the patients in geriatric age group present with this complaint at some point of time. When a patient comes with complaint of feeling of thingsrevolving around him/her or feeling that he himself is revolving or feels imbalance, then he/she is said to have giddiness-vertigo. If the patient complains of momentary blackout or imbalance or vague generalized weakness and restlessness, it cannot be considered vertigo. The main causes of vertigo include : i.                 Giddiness on change of posture or position (benign positional vertigo) ii.                 Vestibular Dysfunction (Vestibular apparatus located in the inner ear helps maintai...