CCFP 105 Topics: Headache

This podcast episode focuses on differentiating benign from serious headache pathology in primary care. The hosts discuss key history-taking points (e.g., age, onset, associated symptoms like fever or neurological deficits) and physical exam findings (e.g., meningismus, visual changes) to identify high-risk headaches. They then cover common benign headache types (migraines, tension headaches, cluster headaches), outlining diagnostic criteria and treatment options (including both acute and prophylactic medications). A key takeaway is the importance of timely imaging (CT or MRI) for patients with high-risk features, even if symptoms improve with treatment, to rule out serious conditions like intracranial bleeds. The episode concludes with a discussion of medication-induced headaches and the need for careful medication management.