Question

A 27-year old woman of 35 wks gestation with gestational diabetes reports having headaches for the last day that will not go away. Discuss what questions you would ask the patient,  and what further testing you would want to have performed.

Answer 1

Headaches can sometimes be related to blood pressure problems in pregnancy. If they are persistent or severe and happen after 20 weeks of pregnancy, let your healthcare provider know. Although strokes during pregnancy are rare, migraines can increase a pregnant woman's risk for them. So that the following questions I would ask the patient :

• Charectoristics of head ache.
• Severity of head ache
• Previous history of such problems
• If there is any Increased workload
• If she had any mental stress or tension
• History of Hypertension
• Use of medications.
• About other discomforts and problems.
• Medical history
• About obstratical history.
• About increased caffeine intake.
• About sleep pattern.

Question : what further testing you would want to have performed.?

Answer :

• Check blood pressure.
• Blood chemistry and urinalysis
• CT scan
• Ultrasound to identify fetal distress
• EEG
• Assess dehydration
• History collection and physical assessment.