Raised intracranial pressure headache
The characteristic features of the headache in raised intracranial pressure are:
- generalised ache over cranium
- worst on awakening - the brain is relatively poorly supplied by oxygen as a result of hypoventilation during the sleeping hours
- may awaken patient from sleep
- aggravated by bending, stooping
- severity gradually progresses
The headache is associated with:
- nausea and vomiting
- obscurations - transient loss of vision - with sudden change in posture; indicates markedly elevated intracranial pressure
- eventually, impaired conscious level
Investigation should be with a CT scan.
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