These types of headache are severe in pain and usually affect one-side of the head. Cluster headaches happen in groups or “clusters” and can occur over weeks and even months. These headaches are unilateral and are very severe in intensity. The pain from cluster headaches is said to be much greater than a migraine and some experts say it may be the most severe pain known to medical science. With such a strong statement like that you may be wondering what exactly a cluster headache is. Let’s define it here.

Cluster headaches are found occurring more often in men than women. The severe pain will usually start suddenly and last about 30 to 45 minutes but the headache itself can be present for hours and may even come and go during the day. Cluster headaches are caused by the swelling of blood vessels in the head. Although no one really knows what causes the severity of the pain associated with this headache there is a list of symptoms to watch for. These can include:
*Drooping or swollen eyelids
*Watery eyes
*Nasal discharge and congestion
*Pain is usually one-sided but can switch sides when a new series of headaches starts
*Facial sweating
*Change in eye pupil size on one side of the face
*Increased heartbeat
*Flushed face
*Restlessness

The pains from these headaches are so severe they can wake you from your sleep, giving it the nickname “alarm clock headaches”. Some even call cluster headaches “suicide headaches” because the severe pain can make a normal man suicidal.

Some people are considered chronic cluster headache sufferers these people experience pain attacks of everyday for more than a year and have no pain-free time of more than a month. Approximately, 10-15% of sufferers are considered chronic. The average cluster headache sufferer will have periods of months or even years with no symptoms. This leads of to a term called episodic. Episodic is a term that describes people who have these cluster headache attacks several times a day and usually at the same time every day. This can last for weeks but is usually followed by a period of pain free living. This period can last weeks, months and even years.

What kind of treatment is available? Prophylactic therapy should be started as soon as you are diagnosed if possible. It will shorten the length of the cluster period and will help with the pain. Medications involved are usually corticosteroids, verapamil and anti epileptic. As the headaches disappear medications can be slowly discontinued. For the chronic cluster headache sufferer treatment options are more intense. Histamine desensitization and even surgery may be considered.

Cluster headaches are usually a life long part of an average sufferer’s life; they rarely disappear on their own. Medications and treatments available today can help but will not totally erase the headaches. Drinking alcohol, smoking and stress are among the list of triggers for cluster headaches and should be avoided. Keep a headache diary and work closely with your doctor until you find a way to manage your headache.