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Headache as a symptom of cerebrovascular disease
1Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Headaches are a key symptom in cerebrovascular diseases like intracranial hemorrhage. Recognizing headache as a potential stroke indicator, including cerebral thrombosis and embolism, can enable timely preventive treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Headaches are prominent symptoms in cerebrovascular diseases, notably intracranial hemorrhage.
- Distinguishing severe migraine from subarachnoid hemorrhage can be challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the less recognized association between headaches and cerebral thrombosis/embolism.
- To emphasize the diagnostic and preventive potential of recognizing headache as a stroke precursor.
Main Methods:
- Clinical observation.
- Computed tomography (CT) scans.
- Lumbar puncture.
Main Results:
- Headaches are a valuable diagnostic clue for intracranial hemorrhage.
- Clinical observation, CT scans, and lumbar puncture aid in differentiating subarachnoid hemorrhage from severe migraine.
- Headaches can precede or accompany cerebral thrombosis and embolism, indicating potential stroke risk.
Conclusions:
- Early recognition of headaches associated with cerebrovascular events like thrombosis and embolism is crucial.
- Identifying these headaches as a stroke precursor allows for prompt preventive interventions.
Abstract:
In some forms of cerebrovascular disease, such as intracranial hemorrhage, headaches are well known as a prominent symptom and often are a valuable clue to diagnosis. There are difficulties, sometimes, in distinguishing between a small subarachnoid hemorrhage and a severe migraine headache, but these can be resolved using clinical observations, CT scan, and lumbar puncture. It seems less well known that headaches may accompany or precede cerebral thrombosis and embolism. When these headaches are recognized as a forerunner to stroke, they may allow an opportunity for preventive treatment.