Waking up from sleep has to be a peaceful thing. However, imagine when you wake up, you experience a shooting pain behind one eye. It feels like someone has forcibly stuck a red-hot poker behind your eyes and into your skull. In such a case, the eyes and nose become watery, and all you may want is to hit your head on the wall to relieve the pain. It’s just about doing anything that can relieve you from the pain. That’s a cluster headache. If this is new for you, it is not wrong to assume yourself lucky.
Cluster Headaches: Why It Happens
You may have heard of migraines. Usually, migraines give warning signals and have a buildup before occurrence. On the other hand, cluster headaches are sudden and unforeseen, making them even more ferocious and unbearable. Naming an exact cluster headache cause is still not possible. Some believe it may be linked to the hypothalamus, the brain’s biological clock. Typically, cluster headaches attack at the same time every day. It may occur for weeks or months and then disappear until the next time.
The “Suicide Headache”
Cluster headaches are often also termed the” suicide headache”. That’s because of the intensity with which it occurs. These are not just bad or severe headaches, but can be so serious that they become unbearable and push the sufferers to their limits. Often people suffering from cluster headaches describe them as something even more painful than kidney stone pain or childbirth.
Who’s on the Hit List?
Cluster headaches and their attacks are not very common but are rare. They usually attack people with eerie consistency. You must also know that men are at a higher risk of cluster headaches than women and it usually starts between ages 20 and 50. Those who drink heavily or smoke are at a much higher risk. It must also be noted that avoiding alcohol may be quite helpful in such conditions. However, drinking during the episodes of cluster headaches can work like gasoline on fire, even a sip of alcohol can precipitate an attack within minutes.
The Pattern of Pain: Like Clockwork
If compared with migraines, they last for hours or days. However, cluster headaches strike quickly and intensely. Every episode may typically last between 15 minutes and 3 hours, but they may occur multiple times in a day, weeks or months. Once they vanish, they typically don’t return for years. Since they are seasonal, some people may link them with changes in daylight or circadian rhythms.
The Strange Side Effects
The unbearable headache is not the only effect of cluster headaches. Other cluster headache symptoms can be:
- One eye may become red and quite watery.
- The eyelid may droop (a condition called ptosis)
- Blocking of the nose or a runny nose on the affected side
- A feeling of restlessness and inability to stay still
The Usual Suspects: Triggers
The typical triggers of cluster headaches are not the common ones that can cause a usual headache. Their suspected triggers can be:
- Alcohol (even small amounts can set off an attack during a cluster period)
- Strong smells (like petrol or perfume)
- Changes in sleep patterns
- High altitudes
- Excess heat or extreme cold
The Cure for Cluster Headaches
Unfortunately, there is no permanent remedy to get rid of cluster headaches. However, the good news is you can manage them. Since the attack of cluster headaches is quick, general painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol may not be effective. It may take time for them to work. So, the right cluster headache treatments can be:
- Oxygen Therapy
To shorten the duration of the attack or even stop it within a few minutes, you may try inhaling 100% oxygen through a mask. So far, it is one of the most effective treatments. However, the easy availability of oxygen therapy for cluster headaches is doubtful. - Triptans:
Medications like sumatriptan can be used to abort an attack. Triptan for cluster headaches can be injected or taken as a nasal spray. locybin (magic mushrooms), but these remain largely unapproved and controversial and dangerous.
Preventing the Nightmare
Anyone suffering from frequent attacks of cluster headaches is prescribed the following by doctors:
- Verapamil which is a blood pressure medication. It prevents episodes of cluster headaches
- Steroids can be recommended if the condition becomes severe
- Lithium can also be effective though it is typically used to treat bipolar disorder
- Melatonin supplements are recommended to regulate sleep and possibly prevent attacks
Outsmarting Cluster Headaches
- Lifestyle changes may help in preventing cluster headaches though they are also tricky. Some tips are:
- Make sure to follow a strict sleep schedule. Disturbed sleep patterns are often a trigger
- It is best to avoid alcohol and smoking, at least during the episodes of cluster headaches. Intoxicants may also trigger other health problems which may further trigger cluster headaches
- Avoiding strong smells and bright light can also be helpful.
To Wind Up
Cluster headaches and migraines are different conditions. While migraines can come with signals, cluster headaches are sudden. The severity of the pain is also much higher in cluster headaches and especially causes pain behind one eye. An attack may continue for a few minutes to hours, days, weeks and even months before they disappear for years. Remedies like oxygen therapy, triptans, and lifestyle changes can help a lot in managing the condition. To reduce the frequency or severity of attacks, verapamil may also be recommended. If you or someone you know experiences such pain, it is advised to consult the best doctor for cluster headaches immediately to manage the condition.
