NURS 6501: Final Exam: Please contact Assignment Samurai for help with NURS 6501: Final Exam or any other assignment. Email: assignmentsamurai@gmail.com   Which of the following is a characteristic feature of a headache associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage? Group of answer choices

• Associated with fever and jaw claudication
• Gradual onset over several days
• Severe, often described as the worst headache of one’s life
• Intermittent and unilateral, typically in the temporal area

The correct answer is: Severe, often described as the worst headache of one’s life   Explanation: A subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (often due to a ruptured aneurysm) classically presents with:

• Sudden, explosive ("thunderclap") headache—patients often describe it as "the worst headache of my life."
• Peak intensity within seconds to minutes (not gradual onset).
• Associated symptoms: Neck stiffness (meningismus), nausea/vomiting, photophobia, or loss of consciousness.

Why not the others?

• Fever and jaw claudication: Seen in temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis), not SAH.
• Gradual onset over days: Suggests tension-type headache or migraine, not SAH.
• Intermittent and unilateral temporal pain: Classic for migraine or cluster headache, not SAH.

Thus, the sudden, severe, "worst ever" headache is the hallmark of SAH.