What Are Cluster Headaches And How to Deal With Them?

Cluster headaches are intense headaches on one side of the head that appear in groups, or "clusters." They usually last several weeks or months. Cluster headaches might be so intense that you are unable to carry out your daily routine or activities. The pain is sometimes referred to as the most severe form of headache pain.

Cluster headaches occur in cycles (also known as cluster periods). Most persons who suffer from cluster headaches experience one or two cluster episodes each year. A cluster phase might span a month or more. After a cluster phase has ended, you may not experience another headache for months or even years. As you become older, you're more likely to go longer periods of time without experiencing a headache. You may never get cluster headaches again.

Cluster headaches may be alarming. Cluster headaches, while extremely intense, do not cause long-term injury. During a cycle, you may be able to minimize their frequency, severity, and duration.

What Causes Them?

Experts are unsure what causes cluster headaches. They run in families, but it's unclear why some people have cluster headaches and others don't.

What Exactly Are the Symptoms?

The primary symptom of cluster headaches is acute burning or sharp, piercing pain on one side of the head. The discomfort radiates from your head and eyes. Your eyes may become red, watery, or swollen. You may experience drooping eyelids and a runny or stuffy nose on one side of your head.

The discomfort generally worsens fairly quickly. The pain intensifies within 5 to 10 minutes of the headache beginning and might linger for 15 minutes or more. Cluster headaches frequently occur at the same time each day. But they can occur at any time. You may get one to eight headaches every day.

How Do They Get Diagnosed?

A doctor can typically identify if you have cluster headaches after inquiring about your symptoms and examining you. If your doctor suspects that your symptoms are the result of another condition, he or she may prescribe further testing, such as a CT scan or MRI. However, most people will not require these tests.

How Are Cluster Headaches Managed During a Cycle?

When a headache strikes, you can take medication or breathe in oxygen from a machine to relieve the discomfort or stop it. You use these remedies just when you sense a headache coming on. You do not utilize them on a daily basis.

Cluster headache treatment should start as soon as they occur. Do not wait for your headache to worsen. Take your medication precisely as prescribed by your doctor.

Do whatever feels best for you. You may feel better after walking, jogging in place, sitting, kneeling, or standing. Lying down may worsen the discomfort. If your current treatment is ineffective, ask your doctor if you may try anything different. It may take time to determine what works best for you.

Cluster headaches are typically not treated with over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Dealing with recurring cluster headaches can cause stress and sadness, which can perpetuate the headache cycle. Finding techniques to cope with stress (such as regular exercise) and improving depression may help to minimize the severity or frequency of cluster headaches.

What Can You Do to Avoid Them?

There is no cure for cluster headaches. You have no control over whether or if a cycle of cluster headaches will begin. However, once a cycle begins, you can take medication to help avoid or lessen the number of headaches you get during the cycle. You take this medication every day of the cycle.

Certain items may increase the likelihood of a headache throughout a cycle. These are referred to as "triggers." Avoiding them may help to prevent headaches. Triggers include:

- Drinking alcohol;

- Sleep issues. It's ideal to go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Do not take naps;

- Increase in body temperature. This can occur when you exercise, take a hot bath, or become agitated;

- Nitrates. These are present in wine, cured meats, aged cheeses, and some medications;

- Histamine. Seasonal allergies might cause a headache.

A headache journal might provide you and your doctor with useful information for managing your headaches. Write down when and how often the headaches occur, how severe they are, and what you believe is causing them. Share this information with your doctor.