Cluster headache

Cluster headaches are characterized by cyclical, grouping tendencies, which is reflected in the condition's name. Cluster headaches are one of the most severe types of headaches

Cluster headache often wakes the patient up at night due to intense pain around one eye or on one side of the head.

Frequent attacks (cluster periods) may last several weeks or months These periods are usually accompanied by remission, when the pain disappears without a trace During remission, the pain does not bother the patient for several months or sometimes years

Fortunately, cluster headaches are rare and not life-threatening Treatment may reduce the duration and severity of cluster periods Medicines reduce the number of attacks

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The exact cause of cluster headache is unknown, although hypothalamic pathologies definitely play a role Pain attacks develop with hourly accuracy and the cycle often coincides with the change of seasons

This trend indicates the role of the body's biological clock In humans, the biological clock is located in the hypothalamus, a region in the center of the brain

Hypothalamus pathologies may explain the cyclical nature of pain Studies have shown increased activity of the hypothalamus during cluster headache attacks

Unlike migraines and tension headaches, cluster headaches are not associated with triggers such as food, hormonal changes, or stress. Some patients have an aura or nausea, similar to a migraine

When the cluster period begins, alcohol intake accelerates and worsens the pain Because of this, patients avoid alcohol during attacks

Another possible cause is the drug nitroglycerin, which is widely used in heart diseases

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Cluster headaches start soon, without any warning signs Common symptoms are:

• Severe pain, mainly around one eye, or may spread to the face, head, neck and shoulders
• One-sided pain
• Restlessness
• Excessive tearing
• Redness of the eye on the painful side
• Nose Patients say that the pain is so strong that they think they are cutting their eyes alive
  
  Patients also feel restlessness during cluster pain They walk or sit without stopping during an attack Unlike migraines, cluster pain does not go away when lying down, but instead gets worse when lying down.
  
  Migraine-like symptoms – nausea, increased sensitivity to light and noise, and aura may also occur with cluster pain, but mostly in the sky
  
  Characteristics of the cluster pain period (attack)
  
  The period usually lasts 6-12 weeks The start time and duration may be common to any period For example, a cluster period may occur seasonally, such as every subsequent spring or fall
  
  Most patients have episodic cluster headaches In such cases, the attack lasts from 1 week to even 1 year, but it is followed by a period of remission lasting up to 12 months before the next attack.
  
  Chronic cluster headache may last up to 1 year, and the remission period is only 1 month.
  
  During the period of cluster pain:
  
  • Pain is daily, sometimes starts several times a day
  • One attack lasts from 15 minutes to 3 hours
  • Attacks sometimes start at the same time of day
  • Most attacks occur at night, 1-2 hours after sleeping
  
  Pain is the same The intensity decreases rapidly After an attack, patients feel comfortable because of the pain, but at the same time they are tired
  
  When to see a doctor
  
  See a doctor if you think you have cluster headaches to rule out other conditions and start effective treatment
  
  Headaches, even severe ones, are generally not associated with other diseases, but sometimes headaches do indicate another clinical problem, such as a brain tumor or a ruptured aneurysm.
  
  Also, if you have a history of headaches, see your doctor if the pattern of pain changes or the pain is different.
  
  Get emergency help if you have:
  
  • sudden, severe pain
  • pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, mental confusion, fainting, numbness, speech problems These symptoms may indicate a stroke, meningitis, encephalitis, or a brain tumor.
  • Headache after trauma, even minor trauma
  • Sudden, severe pain that is unlike any pain you have experienced before
  • Pain that gets worse and changes shape