Cluster Headaches Characteristics

Cluster headaches, which occur in cyclical patterns or cluster periods, are one of the most painful types of headache. A cluster headache commonly awakens you in the middle of the night with intense pain in or around one eye on one side of your head.


Bouts of frequent attacks, known as cluster periods, can last from weeks to months, usually followed by remission periods when the headaches stop. During remission, no headaches occur for months and sometimes even years.Fortunately, cluster headache is rare and not life-threatening. Treatments can make cluster headache attacks shorter and less severe. In addition, medications can reduce the number of cluster headaches you have.


You get a cluster headache when a nerve pathway in the base of your brain is triggered. That signal seems to come from a deeper part of the brain called the hypothalamus, home of the "internal biological clock" that controls your sleep and wake cycles. The nerve that's affected, the trigeminal nerve, is responsible for sensations such as heat or pain in your face. It's near your eye, and it branches up to your forehead, across your cheek, down your jaw, and above your ear on the same side. A brain condition, such as a tumor or aneurysm, won't cause these headaches.






Characteristics of Cluster Headaches


There are a few things that set this type of headache apart. They include:


Speed. Cluster headaches generally reach their full force quickly, within 5 or 10 minutes.


Pain. It’s almost always on one side of your head, and it stays on the same side during a period, the time when you're getting daily attacks. It's often described as a burning or piercing. It may be throbbing or constant. You'll feel it behind or around one eye. It may spread to your forehead, temple, nose, cheek, or upper gum on that side. Your scalp may be tender. You can often feel your blood pulsing.


Short duration. Cluster headaches usually last only 30 to 90 minutes. They can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as 3 hours, but then they disappear. You'll probably get one to three of these headaches a day. Some people have as few as one every other day, while others get them up to eight times a day.


Predictable. Attacks seem to be linked to the circadian rhythm, your body's 24-hour clock. They happen so regularly, generally at the same time each day, that they've been called "alarm clock headaches." They might even wake you up an hour or two after you go to bed. Nighttime attacks can be more severe than daytime ones.


Frequent. Most people will get daily headaches for 2 weeks to 3 months; in between these periods, they'll be pain-free for at least 2 weeks.




Symptoms


The pain usually starts suddenly. You may notice:


Discomfort or a mild burning feeling

A swollen or drooping eye

A smaller pupil in the eye

Eye redness or watering

Runny or congested nose

Red, warm face

Sweating

Sensitivity to light



Cluster headaches are more common in people who smoke or who are heavy drinkers. During a cluster period, you'll be more sensitive to alcohol and nicotine. Just a bit of alcohol can trigger a headache. But drinking won't trigger one during headache-free periods.




Triggers


When you’re in a cluster period, any of these can bring on a headache:


Cigarette smoke

Alcohol

Strong smells




When to see a doctor


See your doctor if you've just started to have cluster headaches to rule out other disorders and to find the most effective treatment. Headache pain, even when severe, usually isn't the result of an underlying disease. But headaches can occasionally indicate a serious underlying medical condition, such as a brain tumor or rupture of a weakened blood vessel.


Additionally, if you have a history of headaches, see your doctor if the pattern changes or your headaches suddenly feel different. Seek emergency care if you have any of these signs and symptoms:


An abrupt, severe headache, often like a thunderclap


A headache with a fever, nausea or vomiting, a stiff neck, mental confusion, seizures, numbness, or speaking difficulties, which can indicate a number of problems, including a stroke, meningitis, encephalitis or a brain tumor


A headache after a head injury, even if it's a minor fall or bump, especially if it worsens


A sudden, severe headache unlike any you've had


A headache that worsens over days and changes in pattern


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dealing with Arthritis in the Jaw

 Pain in the jaw joint could be the result of TMJ, or temporomandibular joint syndrome. Here's everything you need to know about this confusing condition, including home treatment options that can help ease symptoms.  It’s common for kids with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) to have arthritis in their temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or jaw. Pediatric rheumatologists often check their patients’ jaws because symptoms can be silent or mild at first TMJ flare up  don’t just affect mouth, they also make entire upper body ache. Face will feel incredibly sore, as if  been grinning all day, Eyes will feel so tired that it’s hard to keep them open. It's challenging to use the computer or read books because the postures aggravate the neck  which is also affected by JA  and shoulders. Muscles are knotted and irritated. Teeth often ache as if I have an infection, and this usually happens in the middle of the night. Not to mention the typical fatigue and soreness tha...
Read more

Vertigo: Causes and Treatment

Image
 Vertigo is a sensation of feeling off balance. If you have these dizzy spells, you might feel like you are spinning or that the world around you is spinning. Vertigo is often caused by an inner ear problem. Some of the most common causes include: BPPV: occurs when tiny calcium particles (canaliths) clump up in canals of the inner ear. The inner ear sends signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity. Meniere's disease: This is an inner ear disorder thought to be caused by a buildup of fluid and changing pressure in the ear. Treating vertigo is depends on what's causing it. In many cases, vertigo goes away without any treatment. This is because your brain is able to adapt, at least in part, to the inner ear changes, relying on other mechanisms to maintain balance. If you seek treatment, your doctor will base it on the cause of your condition and your symptoms. It may include medications and balance exercises. Even if no cause is found or if your dizzin...
Read more

Cluster Headaches Treatments And Symptoms

Men are affected by cluster headaches more than women. They typically start around age 30. Cluster headaches are rare when compared with other types of headaches. The pain they produce is severe and tends to recur in the same way each time. They occur in groups, or clusters. Each attack lasts about 1 to 3 hours on average. They may occur every other day, up to multiple times a day. Cluster periods are followed by remissions where there are no headaches. These may last months or years.   Cluster Headaches Symptoms Cluster headaches begin quickly and without warning. The pain is very severe and is often described as a sharp, burning or piercing sensation on one side of the head. It's often felt around the eye, temple and sometimes face. It tends to affect the same side for each attack. People often feel restless and agitated during an attack because the pain is so intense, and they may react by rocking, pacing or banging their head against the wall. You may also get 1 or more of...
Read more