Lesson 1Associated systemic and prodromal features: headache type, aura features, syncope signs, confusion, and involuntary movementsThis section looks at associated systemic and warning features, including headache types, aura, fainting signs, confusion, and involuntary movements, and how these help separate migraine, seizure, TIA, and functional events.
Characterizing headache quality and red flagsVisual, sensory, and language aura phenomenaPresyncope, autonomic signs, and true syncopePostictal confusion, fatigue, and amnesiaInvoluntary movements and motor phenomenologyLesson 2Key symptom inquiries: laterality, sequence, evolution, duration, associated visual/sensory signs, and impaired awarenessThis section covers essential symptom questions for short-term neurological issues, including side affected, sequence, progression, duration, visual and sensory signs, and reduced awareness, guiding localisation and cause.
Laterality and body distribution of deficitsSymptom sequence and orderly spread patternsSymptom evolution, fluctuation, and resolutionVisual field, diplopia, and cortical visual signsSensory change, neglect, and impaired awarenessLesson 3How to document and phrase questions to elicit precise temporal details for transient neurological eventsThis section teaches phrasing questions and documenting responses to get exact time details for short-term neurological events, using simple language, timelines, and diagrams for diagnosis and handover.
Using anchoring events to time symptom onsetClarifying duration with concrete time intervalsSequencing symptoms with stepwise questioningEmploying sketches and body maps in historyStructured note templates for transient eventsLesson 4Past medical and medication history relevant to cerebrovascular and seizure risk (hypertension, anticoagulants, oral contraceptives, illicit drugs)This section reviews medical and drug history affecting stroke and seizure risk, including hypertension, diabetes, blood thinners, hormones, and illegal drugs, linking them to causes and outlook.
Vascular risk factors and small vessel diseaseAnticoagulants, antiplatelets, and bleeding riskHormonal therapy, pregnancy, and thrombosis riskSeizure thresholds, psychotropics, and interactionsIllicit substances and reversible vasculopathiesLesson 5Triggers and context: exertion, posture change, Valsalva, sleep, medication, recent procedures or traumaThis section explains how effort, position changes, straining, sleep, drugs, and recent procedures or injuries trigger neurological symptoms, and systematic questioning to clarify context.
Exertional onset and effort-related symptom patternsPostural change, orthostatic symptoms, and collapseValsalva maneuvers and pressure-related phenomenaSleep, awakening, and circadian symptom patternsMedication changes, procedures, and recent traumaLesson 6Red flags and safety screening: features suggesting imminent stroke, ongoing instability, or life‑threatening mimicsThis section covers warning symptoms suggesting stroke, instability, or dangerous mimics, with structured screening questions and quick risk assessment for urgent scans, referrals, and monitoring.
Sudden focal deficits and stroke warning signsThunderclap headache and subarachnoid concernsNeck pain, trauma, and cervical artery dissectionInfection, fever, and central nervous system sepsisCardiac symptoms, syncope, and hemodynamic riskLesson 7Family, social, and lifestyle history: smoking, alcohol, illicit drugs, recent travel, and occupational exposuresThis section details family, social, and lifestyle factors affecting stroke and seizure risk, including smoking, alcohol, drugs, travel, and work exposures, obtained respectfully and accurately.
Documenting family history of stroke and epilepsySmoking, alcohol, and cardiovascular risk profilingIllicit drugs and toxin-related neurological syndromesRecent travel, infections, and endemic exposuresOccupational hazards, solvents, and heavy metalsLesson 8Structure of a focused neurological history: onset, timing, progression, and resolution of transient eventsThis section outlines focused neurological history structure for short-term events, stressing onset, timing, progression, and resolution, building a story to distinguish vascular, epileptic, and mimic conditions.
Clarifying exact symptom onset and first noticeCapturing temporal pattern and event frequencyDescribing progression, spread, and peak severityDocumenting resolution, residuals, and recurrenceDifferentiating single events from chronic patterns
