Headaches: When to Seek Medical Attention

Headaches

• Sudden onset severe pain: Requires immediate attention
• Headache with fever: Indicates possible infection, needs evaluation
• Nausea and/or vomiting with headache: Suggests potential underlying cause, seek medical advice
• Progressive headache, especially after injury: Could indicate swelling or brain damage, crucial to consult a doctor
• Neurological symptoms (confusion, seizures, memory loss, etc.): Medical emergency, seek immediate medical attention
• Headache after effort (coughing, straining): May relate to other conditions, requires further investigation
• New headache after 55 or in early childhood: Unusual, warrants prompt diagnosis
• Numbness on one side of the face/head with headache: Could indicate neurological problem, requires evaluation
• Headache with fluid or blood from ears: Signifies potential issue, requires urgent medical attention
• Unusual headache pattern: Contact healthcare professional for evaluation
• New headache in patients with cancer or heart disease: Requires careful management and consultation with doctor
• Current headaches require modified treatment: Adapt approach based on assessment of specific symptoms

Pregnancy

• Caution with joint mobilization: Due to the hormone relaxin's effects
• Avoid deep massage to lower back, sacrum, and abdomen (first trimester): Minimizes miscarriage risk (although massage does not increase miscarriage risk)
• Mindful fascial techniques: Importance of careful consideration and patient comfort
• Contraindicated massage for sudden blood pressure changes: Referral to doctor or midwife needed
• Gestational diabetes: Make sure the patient has eaten before massage
• Avoid systemic hot hydro: Preventing increased maternal temperature
• Change position/discontinue massage if patient feels unwell supine (2nd/3rd trimester): Maintain patient comfort
• Increased risk of blood clots: Four to five times higher than normal during pregnancy
• Clot formation: Most common in stagnant or slow-moving veins (iliac, femoral, saphenous)
• Avoid deep treatment medial leg: If concerned about blood clot formation, refer to physician
• Refer to medical doctor for concerns: Pregnancy-related issues warrant medical attention.

Hypertension

• No full body hydro: Avoid full body hydrotherapy
• No prolonged leg elevation: Prolonged leg elevation needs to be avoided.
• Deep neck work and neck stretching precautions: These actions may compress blood vessels.
• Modify full-body strokes to short segmental: Adjust massage techniques to smaller areas
• Avoid full-body lymphatic drainage: Adapt massage for lymphatic drainage
• Avoid painful or stimulating techniques: Ensure comfortable and safe treatment for the patient

Peripheral Cardiovascular Disease (Raynaud's/Buerger's)

• Pain on activity, stopping with rest (intermittent claudication): Recognize the predictable pattern of this pain.
• Pain on elevation, relieved when dependent (legs down): Understand the pain relief with positional changes.
• Reduced circulation to extremities: Assess for skin integrity, diminished pulses, etc.
• Uncontrolled hypertension (stage 3 or higher): Do not do circulatory massage in these cases; consult with a doctor.
• Consult doctor (stage 3 or higher): Avoid circulatory massage

Diabetes

• Avoid areas with compromised skin: Protect the patient from injury
• No elevation of affected limb: Do not elevate the affected limb
• Modify temperature: Avoid extreme temperatures
• Modify stimulatory techniques during attacks: Modify techniques during vasospastic attack
• Contact physician for consultation: Appropriate consultation if diabetes is an issue.

Varicose Veins

• Deep techniques (if tissue dystrophic): Consider deep techniques with proper considerations for tissue
• Local massage (if painful): Target painful areas for massage
• Massage after medical intervention: 24 hours post medical treatment like injections/surgery.
• Avoid massage over varicose veins without diagnosis: Don't treat unless a professional diagnosis is current.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

• Local massage/ROM (if no DVT diagnosis): Massage near the affected area if there is no diagnosis of DVT.
• No proximal distal heat: Avoid heat
• Consult doctor if current DVT: Follow advice of doctor for existing DVTs
• Suspect DVT: Immediate medical referral.
• Important Referral: Urgent referral to a medical professional
• Avoid lower limb treatment with recent femoral fracture: Bilateral (both legs) treatment and recent femoral fractures.

Sinusitis

• Fever present: fever associated with sinus issues
• Facial trauma: Facial issues and trauma associated with sinusitis
• Severe swelling affecting vision/hearing: Significant swelling related to affected senses.
• Persistent symptoms: Ongoing symptoms may require further examination.

COPD (Emphysema + Chronic Bronchitis)

• Dyspnea (shortness of breath): Shortness of breath periods
• Fatigue during daily activities (ADLs); Fatigue affecting daily activities.
• Cardiovascular issues (CHF or pulmonary hypertension): Existing conditions requiring care.
• Respiratory infections: Potential comorbidity
• Advanced emphysema: Side lying or semi-Fowler's position (require doctor's approval)
• Blood in sputum: No postural drainage if blood is present.

Osteoporosis

• No percussion or tampotement: Specific techniques need to be avoided.
• Malignancy (suspected or known): Need to proceed with care.
• Inflammation, or recent trauma. Avoid areas with inflammation or recent trauma.
• Pain during treatment, or infection: These need to be taken into account, or avoided.
• Eating before massage: Ensure the patient has eaten before the session.

This quiz focuses on the warning signs associated with headaches that may require immediate medical evaluation. Learn about symptoms like severe pain, nausea, and neurological changes that indicate serious conditions. Test your knowledge on when to seek help for different headache types and scenarios.