Research presented at the American Stroke Association's 26th International Stroke Conference may help doctors tell the difference between a headache or migraine and a rare stroke called cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT).

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Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil have pinpointed some characteristics of headaches that indicate a CVT - the formation of a blood clot in a vein of the brain.

While most clots occur in arteries (which carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body) blood clots in a vein (which carries blood to the heart) is an infrequent condition.

CVT is often difficult to diagnose because individuals may experience a wide range of symptoms including headaches, seizures or visual impairments. Symptoms can occur suddenly or progress for weeks.

"It is particularly important to recognise this condition early before the clot may spread in the cerebral venous system leading to other neurological complications such as - seizures, visual or motor deficits and increase of intracranial pressure," says lead researcher Erica de Camargo.

Most of the headaches were limited to one side of the head (63 percent) and pulsated (49 percent). Pain worsened with head movement (31 percent), physical activity (23 percent) and coughing or sneezing (20 percent). Headache onset occurred within 48 hours before seeking medical treatment in 26 percent of patients, while 54 percent of patients reported having chronic headaches for more than 30 days.

Another finding was the presence of "thunderclap" headaches - described as very severe and sudden headaches - in 11.4 percent of patients and higher cerebrospinal fluid pressures in these patients as compared to those with severe, but not thunderclap, headaches.

In individuals with prior headaches, changes in the characteristics of the headache as well as the presence of neurological signs are important clues to diagnosis, researchers say.

Read more:
Symptoms of stroke
Transient Ischaemic Attack

 

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