Cluster headaches are probably the rarest form of headache pain among all types of headache. They tend to be more commonly associated with men than with women. Though quite rare, cluster headaches generally cause the most severe headache pain compared to tension headaches and standard headaches.
The term “cluster” is meant to emphasise the cumulative nature of the headache pain associated with this condition. The sufferer normally experiences a constant baseline headache, coupled with intermittent bouts of severe headache pain on top of that.
Cluster headaches are so incredibly debilitating and severe in onset that they have adopted the nickname “Suicide Headache” for obvious reasons.
Cluster Headache Symptoms
There has never been, nor is there presently available, a single known cause for cluster headaches. It is a condition that has baffled medical science for decades. However, the symptoms of cluster headaches are all too familiar for the unfortunate sufferer.
The onset of severe headache pain is usually highly intense. It normally lasts for as briefly as fifteen minutes and may endure for anything up to several hours at a time, and sometimes even longer.
The headache pain itself tends to be sharply focused around one of the eyes. Many cluster headache patients have reported feeling a lingering sensation of mild pain – often called warning pangs – just prior to the main onset of severe headache pain.
Other headache symptoms include swelling of the afflicted eye, and eye watering. Although cluster headaches have been known to be started by cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, to date there is still no known cause.
Cluster Headache Treatment
Unfortunately, cluster headaches cannot be remedied by taking pain killers like paracetamol. Instead, two types of treatment available to manage headache symptoms will be described.
First, there is abortive therapy. This headache treatment involves the inhalation of oxygen by the sufferer. Time is of the essence. In order to successfully placate the advancement of the onset of headache pain, it is paramount that the sufferer commences this treatment within the first sixty seconds of onset.
Secondly, there is another cluster headache management option called prophylactic treatment. This involves the use of medications such as Verapamil. Steroids may also be used to address headache symptoms.
Cluster headaches can be very debilitating and absolutely nasty. The headache symptoms include abrupt onsets and extremely severe headache pain. Fortunately, there are therapies available to manage the symptoms of cluster headaches. There has been no known cause for cluster headaches and no known cure.
For a related discussion, please read Headache Causes, Symptoms and Treatment and Tension Headache Symptoms and Treatment.
Sources:
The Reader’s Digest. (1989). Medical Question & Answer Book. Surry Hills: Reader’s Digest Association Far East Pty Ltd.
Matthew Steel - Matthew is the owner of a small business called Matscopy. He specialises in writing media releases for small to medium enterprises. He is ...
