Introduction

Cluster headaches affect one side of the head and may be associated with tears and nasal congestion. They occur in clusters, happening repeatedly every day, at the same time for several weeks and then remitting. Most sufferers of cluster headaches complain of one to four headaches a day during a cluster period.

One of the most severe types of headaches, cluster headaches has the potential of being as much as double the intensity of a migraine attack.

 

Types of Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are normally of two types:

• Episodic: This kind of headache occurs daily for one week to one year, followed by a pain-free remission period that lasts for weeks to years before another cluster period begins.

• Chronic: This form of cluster headache occurs daily for more than a year with no remission or with pain-free periods lasting less than two weeks.

 

Symptoms of Cluster Headache

The headache in this condition has typical defining symptoms. Here we list the main characteristics of a headache in this condition:

The headache,

• Begins suddenly
• Commonly begins 2 to 3 hour hours after falling asleep
• Is of steady, burning and boring nature
• Pain may also occur in and around one eye
• May involve one side of the face from neck to temples
• Pain quickly gets worse, peaking within 5 to 10 minutes

Other symptoms include:

• Swelling under or around the eyes
• Excessive tears
• Redness in the eye
• Rhinorrhea or nasal congestion
• Red, flushed face

 

Causes of Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are generally not related to other illnesses or diseases of the brain, nor are these associated to hereditary reasons.

Research indicates the following to be the reasons for cluster headaches:

• Medications, such as nitroglycerin
• Heavy smoking
• Interruption in the normal sleep pattern
• Problems with the hypothalamus (that controls the body’s biological clock)
• Increased sensitivity of nerve pathways