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WCN 2021 | Can a headache be a warning symptom of ischemic stroke?

Elena Lebedeva, MD, PhD, DocMedSci, FEAN, The Ural State Medical University, Yekaterinburg, Russia, discusses a study evaluating the presence of sentinel headache, its characteristics, and possible risk factors before ischemic stroke. This was the first study to investigate sentinel headache before ischemic stroke. Sentinel headache was defined as a new type of headache or a previous headache with altered features seven days before stroke. Results showed that 17.1% of stroke patients had headaches seven days before stroke compared to 6.2% of controls. A total of 81 patients (14.7%) had sentinel headaches within the last week before stroke compared to only one control. Additionally, attacks of arrhythmia seven days before stroke were significantly associated with sentinel headache. Prof. Lebedeva also shares recommendations for the evaluation of sentinel headaches. This interview took place during the XXV World Congress of Neurology.