Headaches

 

What causes cluster headaches?

 

The cause of cluster headaches is uncertain. It may be that certain parts of the brain begin to malfunction for an unknown reason. The hypothalamus, an area located at the base of the brain is responsible for the body's biologic clock and may be the part of the brain that is the source for the headaches. When brain scans are performed on patients who are in the midst of a cluster headache, there is abnormal activity in the hypothalamus.

Cluster headaches also:

• tend to run in families and this suggests that there may be a genetic role;

• may be triggered by changes in sleeppatterns;

• may be triggered by medications (for example, nitroglycerin, used for heart disease).

 

If an individual is in a susceptible period for cluster headache, cigarette smoking, alcohol, and some foods (for example, chocolate) also can be potential causes for headache.

 

What are the symptoms of cluster headaches?

Cluster headaches are headaches that come in groups (clusters) lasting weeks or months, separated by pain-free periods of months or years.

 

 

• During the period in which the cluster headaches occur, pain typically occurs once or twice daily, but some patients may experience pain more than twice daily.

• Each episode of pain lasts from 30 to 90 minutes.

• Attacks tend to occur at about the same time every day and often awaken the patient at night from a sound sleep.

• The pain typically is excruciating and located around or behind one eye.

• some patients describe the pain as feeling like a hot poker in the eye. The affected eye may become red, inflamed, and watery.

• The nose on the affected side may become congested and runny.

 

Unlike patients with migraine headaches, patients with cluster headaches tend to be restless. They often pace the floor, bang their heads against a wall, and can be driven to desperate measures. Cluster headaches are much more common in men than women.