OverviewCluster headaches are headaches that are spaced close together. They often occur 1 to 2 times a day for several weeks. This cycle of headaches may suddenly stop altogether but can reappear weeks or even years later.
What is going on in the body?The cause of cluster headaches is unknown. Experts believe that they begin in the part of the brain that manages daily changes in the function of body organs.
What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?Cluster headaches usually last less than 1 hour and rarely longer than 4 hours. The pain is usually sudden and severe and may feel like a stabbing sensation on one side of the head. An individual may feel pain in one eye. The eye may swell and turn red. Someone with a cluster headache usually moves around trying to find a position to ease the pain. Some people even rock back and forth seeking relief or distraction.
Some additional symptoms of cluster headaches include:
• flushing of the face
• pain that spreads to the face and neck
• runny nose or nasal congestion
• tearing from the eyes
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
The causes and risks of cluster headaches are unknown. Cluster headaches occur most often in men between the ages of 20 and 40. Smoking
and alcohol
use can trigger a cluster headache. Some cluster headaches may be triggered by nasal congestion.
What can be done to prevent the condition?
In general, cluster headaches cannot be prevented. Someone who smokes should quit smoking, and those who drink alcohol should limit their intake. Treatment of nasal congestion may eliminate some headache triggers.
How is the condition diagnosed?
Diagnosis of a cluster headache begins with a medical history and physical exam. The healthcare provider may order tests such as head CT or magnetic resonance (MRI) scans to rule out other causes of the headaches.
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