Hammarlund, Westergaard,
Mixed headache- According to Dains, Baumann, & Scheibel, (2016) is a combination of tension and migraine whereby the effect is a combination of throbbing, tightness, pressure and constant pain is felt. Based on AS description this may be what he is experiencing, therefore, this is an important differential diagnosis Krøll, Hammarlund, Westergaard, Nielsen, Sloth, Jensen, & Gard, (2017) performed a study on mixed headaches; the writers noted that while this type of headache is common, very little study is done, so there are not many tailored interventions exist to help the patient. Therefore, more studies are needed to help understand mixed headaches and proper medication modalities, and alternative remedies, to help alleviate and manage the pain.
Conclusion
Per Dain, Baumann, & Scheibel, “headache and nausea are associated with head trauma, stroke, and tumor.” While this may true in many cases, headaches do not seem to have a definitive cause and appear to be puzzling as some headaches have no underlying factors and give no warning. As always pain is what the patient says, so determinants are based mostly on the information provided by the patient. Therefore, asking the right questions is very important. Diagnostic tests, lab test, and physical assessment is done to ensure patient body systems; neurological functionalities are not affected as headaches could be secondary, as a result of many other medical issues; such as sinusitis, meningitis, optic neuritis, or a tumor.
References
Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2015). Seidel’s guide to physical examination (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Dains, J. E., Baumann, L. C., & Scheibel, P. (2016). Advanced health assessment and clinical diagnosis in primary care (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Krøll, L. S., Hammarlund, C. S., Westergaard, M. L., Nielsen, T., Sloth, L. B., Jensen, R. H., & Gard, G. (2017). Level of physical activity, well-being, stress and self-rated health in persons with migraine and co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain. The Journal of Headache and Pain, 18(1), 46.
Omidi, A., & Zargar, F. (2015). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on perceived stress and psychological health in patients with tension headache. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 20(11), 1058–1063
Sullivan, D. D. (2012). Guide to clinical documentation (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.
Tai MLS, Yap JF, & Goh CB. (2018). Dietary trigger factors of migraine and tension-type headache in a South East Asian country. Journal of Pain Research, Vol Volume 11, Pp 1255-1261 (2018), 1255
