All About Cluster Headaches

For over a century, cluster headaches have been officially acknowledged as a syndrome. While cluster headaches are much less common than migraines, 7 out of 10 people are affected by it, and more men than women (a 6:1 ratio) experience cluster headaches.

Although cluster headaches are common in people between 20 and 50 years, cluster headaches typically start around the age of 30. However, there have been rare cases of cluster headaches starting in people as young as 10 years old and as old as 80. Women over 50 years old are more likely to have cluster headaches, although there does not seem to be any link between menopause and the occurrence of cluster headaches. It does appear, though, that cluster headaches stop during pregnancy.

The Meaning is in the Name

Cluster headaches are aptly named because they occur in bouts lasting between four and eight weeks. Ninety percent of people who suffer from cluster headaches say that the attacks stop after eight weeks, while 80% say that they live a pain-free life between four weeks to two years. Sixty percent of cluster headache sufferers report that they do not experience any cluster headaches for six months up to two years. At times, their cluster headaches last only a few days while some say their bouts last for as long as 16 weeks. Furthermore, approximately 10% of cluster headache sufferers become chronic, with bouts continuing on for four to five years.

Cluster Headache Symptoms

You may be suffering from cluster headache syndrome if you answer yes to many of the questions below:

- Are you a male aged between 20 and 50 years?
- Do your headaches normally occur on just one side of your face?
- Is your headache in your eye and socket?
- Is the pain sudden and explosive?
- Do your headaches wake you up at night?
- Do you get headaches for weeks and then stop having them for months?
- Your nose gets stuffed up while you are having a headache?
- You get a sweaty forehead with the headaches?
- Your eyes tear up as you are having the headache?
- Your face often droops during a headache?
- You are more sensitive to alcohol during a headache cycle?

Cluster Headache Pain

The pain associated with cluster headaches is described as sudden and explosive. The pain reaches its peak between two and fifteen minutes. Cluster headache pain typically originates in or right above the eye although it can start in the face, neck or ear. One distinct characteristic of cluster headache is that it always on one side of the head only. About 15% of cluster headache sufferers have reported that the pain tends to switch sides from one cluster headache attack to another, but never occur on both sides at the same time. Cluster headache pain can be excruciating and debilitating. About 20% of those who suffer from cluster headache say that they feel like they are being stabbed in the eye socket several times with an ice pick.

Cluster headache attacks can last between 30 minutes and two hours in about 75% of sufferers. On average, a cluster headache attack lasts for 45 excruciating minutes. Mild attacks usually last no longer than ten minutes while the more severe ones can continue for several hours.

People who have cluster headaches can experience as many a six cluster headaches within a 24-hour period to one cluster headache per week. On average, cluster headache sufferers have one or two attacks a day.

Approximately 85% of sufferers have cluster headache attacks at the same time every day for as long as the cluster bout continues. Some have reported experiencing random cluster headache attacks throughout the day in addition to the constantly recurring one. In fact, 75% of cluster headache attacks occur between 9PM and 10AM, 1AM and 2AM, and 1PM and 3PM. Half of the sufferers report that they are woken up from sleep by a cluster headache attack within two hours of falling asleep.

Treatment for Cluster Headache

Cluster headaches are best treated with inhalers since the attacks come quickly and tend to last for a short time. Ergotine inhaler is usually used to treat cluster headaches as sufferers tend to feel relief five minutes after inhalation. Ergotine is reported to be effective in approximately 80% of people who suffer from cluster headaches. Oxygen therapy is a newer form of treatment for cluster headaches and according to those who have tried it, it seems to be effective.

For more help on the prevention, treatment and remedies for migraines please see the Complete Guide To Migraine Headaches.