A nurse is caring for a client who has headaches. In determining a diagnosis, which of the following precipitating factors is common in both tension-type headaches and cluster headaches?
A.
Depression
B.
Smoking
C.
Poor posture
D.
Stress
The correct answer is:
D. Stress
Explanation:
- Tension-type headaches are often associated with stress, which can lead to muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, contributing to the headache.
- Cluster headaches are less commonly associated with stress, but stress can still be a trigger or exacerbate the condition. However, the primary triggers for cluster headaches are usually more specific, such as alcohol consumption or changes in sleep patterns.
Here’s why the other options are less relevant:
- A. Depression: While depression can be a comorbid condition in individuals with headaches, it is not a common precipitating factor for either tension-type or cluster headaches specifically.
- B. Smoking: Smoking is not a common trigger for tension-type headaches and is more specifically associated with cluster headaches, where it can exacerbate the condition.
- C. Poor posture: Poor posture is primarily associated with tension-type headaches due to muscle strain but is not a known precipitating factor for cluster headaches.
Therefore, stress is the factor common to both tension-type headaches and cluster headaches.