Cluster Headache: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Cluster headache is also known as 'suicide headache', for the severity of the pain experienced. It is a neurological disease, which is characterized by an extremely intense pain that can last for 15 minutes to several hours. The disease is also characterized by a painless remission period lasting for a few day to several months. There are basically two types of cluster headaches, episodic and chronic. The episodic cluster headache usually occurs at regular intervals. People with this kind of cluster headache can experience severe pain, usually at the same time for several days, which is followed by a remission period that can last from few weeks to several months. On the other hand, in the case of chronic cluster headache, there is no remission period, and hence, the individual can experience acute headache continuously for years.

Causes

The exact causes of cluster headache are not known. Many believe that it usually begins in the nerves, known as trigeminal nerves, which are responsible for carrying sensations from the head to the brain. These nerves terminate into the blood vessels around the brain. One immediate cause of the acute pain is the dilation of the blood vessels, which increases the pressure on the trigeminal nerve.

Cluster headache can also be associated with the abnormalities of the hypothalamus, which regulates the cyclical functions of the body. Besides, many substances like nitroglycerine, nicotine, alcohol and chocolate can trigger this headache. Exposure to hydrocarbons may also stimulate this disease. Many experts also suspect a genetic link, though sufficient evidence is not there to establish such a link.

Symptoms

Cluster headache can occur abruptly without any prior signs or symptoms. Sometimes, a mild sensation of pain may be experienced in the general areas that are usually affected. Some other symptoms of cluster headache include eyelid drooping, infection of the conjunctiva, tearing or lacrimation and a runny nose. Sometimes, one may also experience facial blushing, swelling and sweating.

Treatment

The proper diagnosis of cluster headache is not very easy, as it is often mistaken for brain tumor, migraines, multiple sclerosis and other conditions that can cause headaches. Therefore, a physician performs several tests to rule out the possibility of these diseases.

The treatment for cluster headache can be classified into two categories, abortive and prophylactic. The abortive treatment is aimed towards reducing the duration as well as the intensity of the pain, while the prophylactic treatment is of preventive nature. The common abortive treatment include inhalation of oxygen, triptan drugs and spraying of topical anesthetic into the nasal cavity. The prophylactic or preventive medications include steroids, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, melatonin, neuropathic pain alleviating agents and tricyclic antidepressants. The usual pain medications like aspirin and paracetamol are ineffective in relieving the pain caused by cluster headaches.

The worst thing about cluster headache is that the underlying causes of the disease are not known. However, certain factors like smoking and exposure to hydrocarbons, are thought to trigger cluster headaches. Therefore, controlling these factors can be helpful in reducing the severity and frequency of the disease.