All About Cluster Headaches

For more than 100 years, a type of head pain classified as cluster headaches has been officially recognized as a syndrome. Although cluster type headaches are not as widespread as migraines, research shows that 7 out of every 10 people have experienced cluster headaches. Unlike some other forms of headaches, cluster headaches are more predominate in men with 6 of every 7 headache patients being male.

Generally, cluster headaches begin around the age of 30. The age groups that seem to experience these headaches the most are those from the ages of 20 to 50. However, there have been isolated instances of these headaches starting in children as young as age 10 and lasting into the 80’s. For women who do suffer with this type of headache, it seems that those over the age of 50 are more likely to suffer with cluster headaches; however, there does not seem to be any connection between menopause and the incidence of cluster headaches. It has been found that those females who do suffer with this type of headache will stop having them during pregnancy.

The Meaning is in the Name

Cluster headaches are appropriately named since they happen in clusters spanning a time period of anywhere from four to eight weeks. The good news is that 90% of patients who suffer with cluster headaches say that the headaches generally stop after a period of eight weeks and they enjoy a time with no head pain. In fact, 80% report they have a pain-free period lasting anywhere from four weeks to two years between clusters of headaches. Even better is that 60% of patients say they do not experience any headaches for a time period of six months to two years. To give you an idea of what each individual sufferer may face, some headache bouts may last only a few days while some patients suffer with them for a full four months. To make matters worse, these headaches can turn into a chronic condition with a bout lasting four to five years with no relief. Luckily only about 10% of cluster headache patients reach this chronic stage.

Cluster Headache Symptoms

There are a variety of symptoms common to cluster headaches. You may be experiencing cluster headaches if you answer yes to the majority of these questions:

- Are you a man in the age group ranging from 20 to 50 years of age?
- Does your pain happen only on one side of your head?
- Is the pain centered in your eye and eye socket?
- Is the pain sudden and explosive?
- Do your headaches wake you up at night?
- Do you get headaches regularly for several weeks and then not have them at all for months?
- Does your nose get stuffy during the time you are experiencing a headache?
- Does your forehead perspire during your headaches?
- Do your eyes tear up as you are experiencing a headache?
- Does your face often droop when having a headache?
- Are you more sensitive to alcohol during a headache cycle?

Cluster Headache Pain

Those who suffer with cluster headaches describe the pain associated with these headaches as being sudden and explosive. They say the discomfort reaches its peak quickly, generally between two and fifteen minutes. The pain of a cluster headache usually starts in or just above the eye; however, this pain can also begin in the face, neck or ear. One distinct characteristic of the cluster headache is that the pain is isolated to one side of the head. About 15% of cluster headache patients have reported that the pain tends to switch sides from one cluster headache attack to another, but will never take place on both sides of the head at the same time. While the pain of a cluster headache is short lived, it can be both agonizing and debilitating. About 20% of those who suffer with cluster headaches describe the pain as similar to being stabbed in the eye repeatedly with a sharp object.

While cluster headaches are horribly painful, they generally do not last as long as a migraine. Seventy five percent of cluster headache patients say the headaches generally last between 30 minutes and two hours in duration. On average, a cluster headache attack lasts about 45 excruciating minutes. Mild attacks may last no longer than ten minutes with the more severe ones persisting for several hours.

While these headaches don't last long, it is possible for the sufferer to have more than one each day. On average, patients who suffer with cluster headaches have one or two headaches daily; however, it not uncommon for some patients to have as many as six headaches in one 24-hour period or as few as one headache each week.

Cluster headaches also often attack at the same time each day. About 85% of those who suffer with this type of headache will experience a headache at the same time each day for as long as the cluster bout lasts. In addition to this regularly occurring headache, some patients also have headaches that attack randomly throughout the day. In fact, three-fourths of cluster headache attacks occur between the hours of 9pm and 10am, 1am and 2am, and 1pm and 3pm. Half of the sufferers say that they are often woken up from sleep by a cluster headache attack within two hours of going to sleep.

Treatment for Cluster Headache

Inhalers are the ideal treatment for cluster headaches since the attacks happen rapidly and generally last only a short time. An Ergotine inhaler is the top choice for cluster headache relief since users will begin to feel a decrease in their pain as little as five minutes after inhalation. This type of inhaler is beneficial in approximately 80% of patients who experience this type of headache. Oxygen therapy is a newer form of treatment for cluster headaches that does not involve medication, only breathing pure oxygen. According to those who have tried these treatments, they seem to be effective in treating cluster type headaches.

Conclusion

Even though they are generally short lived, cluster type headaches can be severe and very painful. This headache syndrome usually strikes middle-aged men although women are not immune to them. Cluster type headaches are best treated using inhalers or oxygen therapy, a newer form of headache treatment.

Cluster Headaches