Cluster headaches: symptoms, causes, and treatment

Definition of a cluster headache

What are cluster headaches?

Cluster headaches are one of the most common types of headaches in the headache disorder group trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia . These headaches are a series of relatively brief, but very severe and painful bouts of headache.

The pain is described as sharp stabbing like a head that is continuously drilled and feels hot, felt deep in the head or around the eye on one side of the head. The pain often travels to the forehead, temples, cheeks, neck and shoulders.

The term cluster headache comes from the fact that these attacks occur in clusters, or "clusters." During one group cycle, headache attacks could recur between 1-8 times per day occurring daily for weeks or months.

The most common cycle duration usually lasts 1 to 12 weeks. You tend to get them at the same time each year.

The cluster cycle can last for weeks or months and is usually separated by periods of remission (headache-free). This period usually lasts several months until the next cycle comes again.

The appearance of this headache attack is unpredictable. You can be free without headaches for months, but then the disease can recur. The pain that is caused can also go away quickly or slowly.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, cluster headaches are one of the most painful types of headaches. These headaches can be more severe than migraines. However, the duration of attacks usually does not last as long as a migraine.

This headache is further divided into two types, namely:

• Episodic cluster headaches:lasts one week to three months. Cycles can last for a year, but are rare.
• Chronic cluster headaches: last for several months, a year, even more. The period of remission that occurred was relatively short, which was about a month.

How common is this type of headache?

This is the least common type of headache. It is estimated that no more than 1 percent of people in the world experience this condition.

Usually, this disease is more often experienced by men than women. You usually start experiencing this condition before the age of 30.

Cluster headache signs & symptoms

Cluster headache attacks start quickly and without warning. The pain is excruciating and is often described as a sharp, burning, or stabbing sensation on one side of the head.

The side of the head that is affected tends to be the same for each attack. The pain is often centered around the eyes, temples and sometimes the face.

Attacks usually last between 15 minutes and 3 hours. Generally, these attacks occur about 1-8 times a day.

The pain from these attacks can feel excruciatingly severe, making the sufferer often restless and unable to stay still. They may react by rocking their body, pacing back and forth, or banging their head against a wall to relieve the pain.

These headaches also generally occur at night and can make people wake up from sleep.

Symptoms that can accompany

Not only headache, other symptoms that may accompany cluster headaches are:

• Red and watery eyes.
• The eyelid droops on the affected side.
• The pupil on the affected side shrinks from the other side.
• Vision problems in the affected part of the head.
• The face is flushed and sweaty.
• Nasal congestion or runny (runny).
• The skin color becomes pale and turns reddish.
• There is swelling around the eye area on the affected side of the head.
• Pain or excruciating pain that radiates to other areas such as the face, head, and neck.

This disease often occurs at the same time every day for 6 to 12 weeks, followed by the disappearance of the headache for months or years.

As you age, the period between the headache disappearing and the onset of a cluster headache becomes longer.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor?

You should call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Sudden headache.
• Headache followed by fever, nausea or vomiting, neck stiffness, difficulty speaking or problems with facial muscle movements.
• The head hurts after a long injury.

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult a doctor.

Causes of cluster headaches

The cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but this headache pattern suggests a role for the hypothalamic brain disorder.

This area of ​​the brain has two functions: it connects the brain to the nervous system and acts as the body's biological clock, which controls sleep and wake times.

This may explain why cluster headaches often occur at the same time, and are prone to recurrences at night.

Unlike migraine headaches and tension headaches, cluster headaches are generally not related to other causes such as diet, hormonal changes, and stress.

However, once the cluster attack period has started, drinking alcoholic beverages may make the symptoms worse.

Cluster headache attacks can sometimes be triggered by strong scents, such as perfume, paint or gasoline.

Some cases also appear to run in families, which suggests there may be a genetic link.

Risk factors for cluster headaches

Certain factors that increase your risk of developing cluster headaches include:

• Most people ages 20 and 50 suffer from cluster headaches, although the condition can develop at any age.
• Women have a higher rate of cluster headaches than men.
• Smoking and alcohol consumption. Avoid alcoholic drinks and smoking at first during a headache. Although quitting smoking also does not have a significant effect on relieving pain.
• Family history. If your parents and siblings have experienced this type of headache, this can increase your risk.

Diagnosis & treatment of cluster headaches

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the usual tests?

The doctor can make a diagnosis based on history and medical examination. Other tests are generally not needed.

If the pattern of symptoms changes, the doctor will perform additional tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head to look for other disorders that can resemble cluster headaches.

What are the treatment options for cluster headaches?

There is no cure for this headache. However, certain drugs can prevent headache attacks. Here are some treatment options for cluster headaches:

• For persistent headaches (which occur even with preventive medications), inhaling pure oxygen may relieve symptoms. Your doctor can prescribe oxygen therapy for home use if persistent headaches are common.
• If the headache occurs occasionally, you can take medications such as triptans, verapamil, or the steroid ethylprednisolone.
• Other drugs such as verapamil, methysergide, lithium, corticosteroids, and topiramate must be recommended by a doctor if they are to be used.

Not only taking the drug directly, you can also take other quicker ways to relieve pain that occurs in the head area, such as:

1. Inhaling oxygen

You can help relieve cluster headaches by inhaling 100 percent oxygen. Through the help of a special mask at a speed of 7 to 10 liters per minute can make you feel relieved.

However, this method cannot relieve pain completely, only delaying the symptoms coming back.

2. Sumatriptan injection

Not only for migraine headaches, the content of sumatriptan is also claimed to help relieve cluster headaches. The injection dose for adults is 6 mg with a maximum of two injections one hour apart.

However, if you have hypertension and heart disease you should not use this drug.

3. Dihydroergotamine

For some people, this is a fairly effective pain reliever. You can use it by inhaling or intravenously which must be given by medical personnel. There are types of inhalers but the effect is not so fast.

4. Octreotide

This type of injection is a synthetic version of somatostatin, which is a hormone for the brain. Claimed to be quite an effective treatment for relieving cluster headaches.

This type of drug is considered safe for people with hypertension or heart disease.

5. Operation or surgery

If any treatment still fails to relieve the pain you feel, surgery is the last option.

However, this case is rare and can only be done once.

• Conventional surgery. This procedure is done by the surgeon will cut part of the trigeminal nerve. Namely, the area behind and around the eyes. The risk that can occur is eye damage.
• Glycerol injection. This injection, which is performed on the facial nerve, is claimed to be an effective and safer treatment than other surgical procedures.

Home treatment for cluster headaches

Some of the lifestyle changes and home remedies that can help you deal with cluster headaches are:

• Keep your sleep schedule adequate and regular.
• Use the medicine that has been prescribed by the doctor.
• Always check with your doctor to find out the progress of your health.

Prevention for cluster headaches

Just like any other disease, you can take precautions for one-sided headache conditions. This is done so that the headaches don't keep coming back and interfere with all your activities.

Some precautions that can be taken include:

• Cut down on alcohol consumption and quit smoking.
• Also avoid activities in temperatures that are too hot.
• Limit the use of hot water when taking a shower.
• Avoid places that are too high.

This headache is not a condition that can be life threatening for you. However, until now there is no cure.

If you take precautions or deal with the things above, at least it can reduce pain, headaches become less frequent, or even completely disappear.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.