CLINICAL MEDICINE: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 1
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS |2026/2027UPDATED EXAM PREP
What can trigger a cluster headache? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-Alcohol
- Stress
- Glare
Cluster headaches are caused by "hypothalamic activation with secondary
activation of the -autonomic reflex, probably via a - hypothalamic
pathway" - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Trigeminal
What are the symptoms of a cluster headache? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-
Unilateral, periorbital
Ipsilateral (on the same side)
- Increased lacrimation
- Conjunctival injection
- Rhinorrhea
- Nasal congestion
- Ptosis (eye lid drooping)
1
,- Miosis
- Symptoms may wake patient
What is the diagnostic criteria for cluster headaches (do not need to memorize)? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-At least 5 attacks
- Attacks are unilateral and severe lasting 15-180 minutes when untreated - Either
or both of the following:
•At least 1 of the following symptoms or signs ipsilateral to the headache:
conjunctival injection and/or lacrimation, nasal congestion and/or rhinorrhea,
eyelid edema, forehead and facial sweating, miosis and/or ptosis
•A sense of restlessness or agitation
•Attacks have a frequency between one every other day and eight per day
•Not attributed to another underlying diagnosis
What are the labs and diagnostics for cluster headaches? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>-Mostly a clinical diagnosis
- MRI of the brain with and without contrast*
What is the acute/abortive treatment for cluster headaches? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>1st line= 100% oxygen and or/triptan
What is given daily to prevent cluster headaches? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Verapamil
2
,What are some secondary causes of headache? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-
Glaucoma
- Meningitis
-Preeclampsia/eclampsia
- Temporal arteritis
- Shingles
- Tumor
- Bleeds/hemorrhage
True or False: Most headaches are benign - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>True
- Most common type of headache
- Patho/Etiology: multifactorial, genetics, muscle tension, stress, minor trauma
to the head or neck, dehydration, fatigue
- Clinical Manifestations: bilateral, nonpulsatile, band-like head pain, mild to
moderate intensity, described as an "ache", "pressing" or "tight", tenderness of the
face, head, shoulder and upper back muscles
- Pain may be episodic or chronic
-Episodic: lasting 30min- 7 days, without nausea or vomiting, occurring 1-14 days
per month
- Chronic: on 15 or more days per month, lasting hours to days
3
, - Labs/Diagnostics: clinical diagnosis - Treatment/Plan:
•Acute: NSAIDs (Ibuprofen- Advil, Motrin) 200mg or 400mg
Naproxen (Aleve)
•Acetaminophen (Tylenol) only option in the pregnant patient
•Muscle tension: heat, muscle relaxants, physical therapy and stress reduction
•Severe: IM ketorolac
•Alternative: massage, relaxation, stress management
•Prevention (chronic): amitriptyline - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Tension
headache
What should you think if someone says "this is the worst headache of my life" or
thunderclap headache? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Subarachnoid headache
Which type of headache is most common? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Tension
headache
4
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS |2026/2027UPDATED EXAM PREP
What can trigger a cluster headache? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-Alcohol
- Stress
- Glare
Cluster headaches are caused by "hypothalamic activation with secondary
activation of the -autonomic reflex, probably via a - hypothalamic
pathway" - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Trigeminal
What are the symptoms of a cluster headache? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-
Unilateral, periorbital
Ipsilateral (on the same side)
- Increased lacrimation
- Conjunctival injection
- Rhinorrhea
- Nasal congestion
- Ptosis (eye lid drooping)
1
,- Miosis
- Symptoms may wake patient
What is the diagnostic criteria for cluster headaches (do not need to memorize)? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-At least 5 attacks
- Attacks are unilateral and severe lasting 15-180 minutes when untreated - Either
or both of the following:
•At least 1 of the following symptoms or signs ipsilateral to the headache:
conjunctival injection and/or lacrimation, nasal congestion and/or rhinorrhea,
eyelid edema, forehead and facial sweating, miosis and/or ptosis
•A sense of restlessness or agitation
•Attacks have a frequency between one every other day and eight per day
•Not attributed to another underlying diagnosis
What are the labs and diagnostics for cluster headaches? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>-Mostly a clinical diagnosis
- MRI of the brain with and without contrast*
What is the acute/abortive treatment for cluster headaches? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>1st line= 100% oxygen and or/triptan
What is given daily to prevent cluster headaches? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Verapamil
2
,What are some secondary causes of headache? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-
Glaucoma
- Meningitis
-Preeclampsia/eclampsia
- Temporal arteritis
- Shingles
- Tumor
- Bleeds/hemorrhage
True or False: Most headaches are benign - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>True
- Most common type of headache
- Patho/Etiology: multifactorial, genetics, muscle tension, stress, minor trauma
to the head or neck, dehydration, fatigue
- Clinical Manifestations: bilateral, nonpulsatile, band-like head pain, mild to
moderate intensity, described as an "ache", "pressing" or "tight", tenderness of the
face, head, shoulder and upper back muscles
- Pain may be episodic or chronic
-Episodic: lasting 30min- 7 days, without nausea or vomiting, occurring 1-14 days
per month
- Chronic: on 15 or more days per month, lasting hours to days
3
, - Labs/Diagnostics: clinical diagnosis - Treatment/Plan:
•Acute: NSAIDs (Ibuprofen- Advil, Motrin) 200mg or 400mg
Naproxen (Aleve)
•Acetaminophen (Tylenol) only option in the pregnant patient
•Muscle tension: heat, muscle relaxants, physical therapy and stress reduction
•Severe: IM ketorolac
•Alternative: massage, relaxation, stress management
•Prevention (chronic): amitriptyline - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Tension
headache
What should you think if someone says "this is the worst headache of my life" or
thunderclap headache? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Subarachnoid headache
Which type of headache is most common? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Tension
headache
4
