CMN 568 UNIT 5 EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
LATEST UPDATE GRADED A+
essentials for diagnosis for acute HA? - ANSWER- older than 40, rapid
onset and SEVERE intensity, "thunderclap", fever, vision changes, neck
stiffness, HIV infection, current or past hx HTN, neuro findings
Just because imaging is normal for HA does not exclude what possible
dx? - ANSWER- SAH
what are the 3 critical components of exam for HA? - ANSWER- vital
signs, neuro exam, vision testing with funduscopic exam
when doing visual exam for HAs, what is crucial to assess for vision? -
ANSWER- visual acuity, ocular gaze, visual fields, pupillary defects,
optic disc and retinal vein pulsations.
,If you find any abnormality on neuro exam for HA then what? -
ANSWER- emergency neuroimaging
what is the criteria for the OTTAWA SAH clinical decision rule? -
ANSWER- 40 or older, neck pain/stiffness, witnessed LOC, onset
during exertion, thunderclap HA, limited neck flexion (on exam)
what medications are avoided as 1st line for HA? - ANSWER-
morphine/hydromorphine
what are the characteristics of migraines? - ANSWER- pulsatile HA
lasts 4-72 hours, unilateral, aggravated by routine physical activity,
photophobia, phonophobia, common for no aura with HA
To avoid over use of medications for HA, what is the recommendation
for limited analgesics? - ANSWER- less than 15 days/month, combo
analgesics to less then 10 days/month
who can not take Ergotamines for migraines? - ANSWER- pregnant, CV
disease or RF, pts taking CYP3A4 inhibitors
what is the most common primary HA disorder? - ANSWER- tension-
type HA
, how are tension type HA described? - ANSWER- vise-like or tight, not
pulsatile, not associated with focal neuro symptoms.
what medication do you NOT give to tension type HAs? - ANSWER-
triptans
First line tx of cluster HAs? - ANSWER- sumatriptan sub-q/intranasal or
inhaled 100% o2 via 12-15 L/min non-rebreather for 15 mins
what medications lead to overuse headache if taken more than 10 days
per month? - ANSWER- ergotamines, triptans, meds with butalbital, and
opioids.
what medications can lead to overuse HA if taken more than 15 days per
month? - ANSWER- acetaminophen, acetylsalicyclic acid, and NSAIDs
what diagnostic imaging should be done on all primary cough HA and
why? - ANSWER- CT or MRI due to possible intracranial lesions, brain
tumors.
what is used for tx in primary cough HA? - ANSWER- indomethacin
what is the key feature of HA due to intracranial mass? - ANSWER-
new or worsening HA in middle or later life.
AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
LATEST UPDATE GRADED A+
essentials for diagnosis for acute HA? - ANSWER- older than 40, rapid
onset and SEVERE intensity, "thunderclap", fever, vision changes, neck
stiffness, HIV infection, current or past hx HTN, neuro findings
Just because imaging is normal for HA does not exclude what possible
dx? - ANSWER- SAH
what are the 3 critical components of exam for HA? - ANSWER- vital
signs, neuro exam, vision testing with funduscopic exam
when doing visual exam for HAs, what is crucial to assess for vision? -
ANSWER- visual acuity, ocular gaze, visual fields, pupillary defects,
optic disc and retinal vein pulsations.
,If you find any abnormality on neuro exam for HA then what? -
ANSWER- emergency neuroimaging
what is the criteria for the OTTAWA SAH clinical decision rule? -
ANSWER- 40 or older, neck pain/stiffness, witnessed LOC, onset
during exertion, thunderclap HA, limited neck flexion (on exam)
what medications are avoided as 1st line for HA? - ANSWER-
morphine/hydromorphine
what are the characteristics of migraines? - ANSWER- pulsatile HA
lasts 4-72 hours, unilateral, aggravated by routine physical activity,
photophobia, phonophobia, common for no aura with HA
To avoid over use of medications for HA, what is the recommendation
for limited analgesics? - ANSWER- less than 15 days/month, combo
analgesics to less then 10 days/month
who can not take Ergotamines for migraines? - ANSWER- pregnant, CV
disease or RF, pts taking CYP3A4 inhibitors
what is the most common primary HA disorder? - ANSWER- tension-
type HA
, how are tension type HA described? - ANSWER- vise-like or tight, not
pulsatile, not associated with focal neuro symptoms.
what medication do you NOT give to tension type HAs? - ANSWER-
triptans
First line tx of cluster HAs? - ANSWER- sumatriptan sub-q/intranasal or
inhaled 100% o2 via 12-15 L/min non-rebreather for 15 mins
what medications lead to overuse headache if taken more than 10 days
per month? - ANSWER- ergotamines, triptans, meds with butalbital, and
opioids.
what medications can lead to overuse HA if taken more than 15 days per
month? - ANSWER- acetaminophen, acetylsalicyclic acid, and NSAIDs
what diagnostic imaging should be done on all primary cough HA and
why? - ANSWER- CT or MRI due to possible intracranial lesions, brain
tumors.
what is used for tx in primary cough HA? - ANSWER- indomethacin
what is the key feature of HA due to intracranial mass? - ANSWER-
new or worsening HA in middle or later life.
