While cluster headaches can come on rapidly and become quite brutal and even disabling, they are rarely a serious concern, and do not cause any type of permanent damage or injury.
They can, however, be a significant detriment to one’s daily life, particularly because the length of these kinds of headaches can be as long as a few hours. They also have a tendency to recur in groups or “clusters” over a period of a few weeks or months, leading many sufferers to have to live with the worry that another severe headache could hit at any time. The good news about cluster headaches is that they are relatively uncommon, and they can be treated with a variety of options.
What Are The Symptoms and Treatment For Cluster Headaches?
The symptoms of a cluster headache can be powerful and even alarming to someone who is experiencing one of these headaches for the first time.
The pain is described as piercing or burning, (see burning headache) and it begins on one side of the head and radiates around to the temple and eye region.
The affected eye may become red and puffy, and the nose can become congested as well.
The pain usually comes on rather swiftly, and intensifies within minutes after the onset. The full attack may last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, making this a devastating pain indeed. Treatment can include a daily medication to prevent the cluster headaches, or a medicine that can be taken at the onset to ease the symptoms before they become too severe. High-flow oxygen therapy has also been proven to be an effective treatment for some who experience severe or frequent cluster headaches.
What Are Causes Of A Cluster Headache?
The cause of the cluster headache is by and large unknown, although genetics does seem to play a role in cause for many people. This means that if you have a parent or other family member who has suffered from this variety of headaches, there is a greater chance that you might also. It also appears to occur more often in men than in women. It is possible that the part of the brain called the hypothalamus is involved in the cause of cluster headaches, since people who experience them seem to have a high level of activity in this area of the brain. There are also a multiplicity of triggers that can bring on a cluster headache, such as stress, fatigue, sleep apnea, drinking of alcohol or taking certain types of medications. Also see our article on the treatments for Cluster Headaches.
Notice:
HeadacheNet.com is solely to be
used as an informational resource and should never be
used to replace contact with your licensed healthcare
provider.
