Cluster Headaches
ABOUT CLUSTER HEADACHES
A Cluster headache is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, severe, and strictly one-sided head pain, focused around the eye or temple.
Key Characteristics:
- The pain is always one-sided — felt in or around the eye, above the eye,
- or at the side of the head.
- The pain is extremely severe; often described asburning, piercing, or stabbing.
- The Attacks last between 15 minutes and 3 hours.
- The attack frequency is from once every 2nd day to 8 times per day.
The following associated symptoms are always on the same side as the pain:
- Redness and tearing of the eye
- Blocked or runny nose
- Sweating of the forehead and face
- Drooping or swelling of the eyelid
- Small pupil (miosis)
During attacks patients are typically restless or agitated, often pacing or rocking due to the intensity of the pain.
Cluster Periods and Remissions:
- Attacks often occur in series (cluster periods) lasting weeks to months.
- These are usually followed by remission periods of months or years.
- Around 10–15% of patients develop Chronic Cluster Headache with no remission periods.
Other Important Facts:
Prevalence in the population: 0.1%
- Severity, frequency, and duration may change over time.
- About 5% of cases may be inherited.
- 27% of patients experience only one cluster period in their lifetime.
- Cluster headaches can occur at any age but most commonly peak between ages 20 and 40.
- Cluster headaches are 3 times more often in men than women.
- Migraines and cluster headaches are distinct conditions yet they
share certain similarities: - They are both neurological in origin.
- They may respond to the same treatments (triptans).
- They can share common triggers.
- They share some of the pathophysiological pathways (trigeminovascular system).
- Genetic factors are important in both diseases.