The Truth About Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches (also used in singular: headache), also nicknamed suicide headaches, occur several times a day, they come on unexpectedly, do not last long, and are generally very painful. The pain is usually intense, and sometimes only on one side of the head. Frequently, the sufferer also feels pain around the eye.

A cluster-headache sufferer can wake up during the night because of the pain. Often, this occurs at the same time each night. The eye on the painful side of the head may be reddened and watery. The individual’s nose may be runny or blocked on the side of the nose where the pain is.

In northern countries cluster headaches tend to occur more frequently during the autumn (fall) and spring. Alcohol or extreme variations in temperature can trigger an episode during a cluster period – generally, the change in temperature refers to a rapid rise in body temperature.

Cluster headache attacks occur cyclically, hence the name. A bout of regular attacks – cluster periods – can last from a few days, weeks, to even months. This is followed by remission periods during which no headaches are felt.

Cluster headaches are not very common – they are said to affect about 1 in every 1,000 people. Unlike migraines, they affect men more often than women; about 80% of sufferers are men, most of them smokers. Fortunately, they generally have no long-term effects on the sufferer’s physical health. There are therapies, such as oxygen therapy, available which can significantly reduce the number and intensities of headaches.

Each cluster can last from 15 minutes up to several hours – the majority of cases do not last more than an hour. Typically, a patient will suffer from one to three clusters each day.

According to Medilexicon’s medical dictionary:
Cluster headache is “possibly due to a hypersensitivity to histamine; characterized by recurrent, severe, unilateral orbitotemporal headaches associated with ipsilateral photophobia, lacrimation, and nasal congestion.”
What are the signs and symptoms of cluster headaches?
A symptom is something the patient feels and reports, while a sign is something other people, including a doctor or a nurse may detect. For example, pain may be a symptom while a rash may be a sign.

Symptoms come on rapidly, generally without any warning, and they may include:
Intense pain, some describe it as excruciating. The pain is continuous, rather than throbbing. The pain often starts around the eye, and may then radiate to other parts of the head, including the face, and down to the neck and even the shoulders. Many patients feel pain in a temple or cheek.

• The pain remains on one side of the head
• The patient becomes restless.
• The eye on the side of the pain is watery and tearful
• The eye on the side of the pain reddens
• There may be swelling around the eye on the pain side
• Stuffy, blocked, or runny nose on the pain side
• Pallor – skin of the face is pale
• Face is sometimes sweaty
• Pupil size may shrink
• Eyelid on the pain side may droop

Patients often describe their pain as stabbing, sharp, burning and penetrating; as if a hot poker had been plunged into one of their eyes. The individual will usually pace around during the episodes of pain, unable to stay still for long. When they sit many may rock back and forth in an attempt to sooth the discomfort (sometimes this helps).

While migraine sufferers prefer to lie down during an attack, most people with a cluster headaches say that lying down worsens the pain.
Chronology of cluster headaches (time patterns)

A cluster period typically lasts from 1 to 12 weeks. They often start at similar calendar moments – perhaps during springtime or at some time in the fall (autumn).
Episodic cluster headaches – patients experience a series of searing headaches for about one week. Then nothing for six to twelve months. Then the week repeats itself.

Chronic cluster headaches – in this case the cluster periods can persist for several months, even for a year or longer. While periods of remission (periods with no pain) are short; perhaps just a month long.
A cluster period may consist of:
Daily occurrences, with symptoms appearing several times each day.
Just one attack, lasting from 15 minutes to up to three hours.
Attacks occur each day at approximately the same time.
Most attacks occur between 9pm and 9am (source: The Mayo Clinic, USA)
The pain will suddenly go as quickly as it appeared. Sufferers will be pain-free afterwards, and are often worn out.

If you start getting headaches, it is advisable to see your doctor. Usually, headaches do not have an underlying cause (some illness or condition). However, sometimes they do. It is important for the doctor to rule out any possible underlying causes.
What are the risk factors for cluster headaches?

In medicine, a risk factor is a condition, illness, situation or environment which raises the risk of developing a disease or condition. For example, obese people are more likely to develop diabetes type 2 compared to people of normal weight. Therefore, obesity is a risk factor for diabetes type 2.

For cluster headaches, the risk factors include:
Being male – approximately 8 in every 10 sufferers are male.
Being an adult – nearly all suffers say their cluster headaches started after they were 20 years old.
Ethnic ancestry – people of African ancestry are twice as likely to suffer from cluster headaches, compared to Caucasian people.
Smoking - the majority of male sufferers are smokers.
Alcohol consumption – a significant proportion of sufferers claim that alcohol is a key trigger during a cluster period (not during remission periods).
Genetics – if you have a close relative (parent or sibling) who has (had) cluster headaches, your risk of having them yourself is greater.

What are the causes of cluster headaches?

Experts are unsure why cluster headaches occur. Some researcher neurologists have found that during an attack there is a great deal more activity in the hypothalamus – an area of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst. It is suggested that perhaps that area of the brain releases chemicals that cause blood vessels to widen, resulting in a greater bloodflow to the brain, and subsequent headaches.

If the hypothalamus does act in this way, nobody knows why. We do know that such things as alcohol or a sudden rise in temperature, or exercising in hot weather may trigger attacks.

Biology – The cyclical nature of cluster headaches suggests there it may be linked to our biological clock, which is located in the hypothalamus.

Hormones - researchers have found that many people who suffer from cluster headaches have unusual levels of melatonin and cortisol during their attacks.

Apart from alcohol, cluster headaches are not linked to the consumption of any foods.  Even with alcohol, it is only a trigger when the sufferer is in the middle of a cluster period.   Some association has been found between cluster headaches and mental stress or anxiety.

Experts say there may be a link between cluster headaches and some medications, such as nitroglycerin, which is used for the treatment of heart disease.
What are the treatment options for cluster headaches?

Currently, public opinion states that there is no treatment that can get rid of cluster headaches completely. Modern therapy aims to alleviate some of the symptoms, shorten the periods of headaches, and reduce their frequency.

OTC (over-the-counter, no prescription required) painkillers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen are not effective for cluster headaches; because the pain comes on rapidly and goes away quickly too. By the time the medication has started to work the headache has probably gone. Therefore, many medications and treatments for cluster headaches are either aimed more at prevention, or fast action.

Fast-acting treatments (acute treatments)
Inhaling 100% oxygen – most patients find that if they breathe in oxygen through a mask at 7 to 10 liters per minute they experience significant relief of symptoms within 15 minutes. The only problem with this therapy is that the patient has to have an oxygen cylinder and regulator close at hand – carrying them around can be cumbersome. There are some small units on the market. In some cases this kind of therapy only postpones symptoms, rather than alleviating them.

Local anesthetic nasal drops. It is very effective for the treatment of cluster headaches.

Surgery – if patients do not respond adequately to aggressive treatments, or cannot tolerate some medications, surgery may be recommended – even so, surgery is very rare. Surgery can only be performed once, and is only suitable for sufferers who have pain on just one side of the head. Surgical procedures include:

Conventional surgery – the surgeon cuts part of the trigeminal nerve, which serves the area behind and around the eye. This is not a procedure of first choice as there are risks to the patient’s eye.

Glycerol injection – glycerol is injected into the facial nerves. This effective treatment is safer than other surgical procedures.

Stimulator (still being tested) – a small device is implanted over the occipital nerve and sends impulses via electrodes. According to researchers from the Mayo Clinic, USA, a significant number of patients experienced reduced chronic headache pain. The device appears to be well tolerated and safe to use. Another study is looking into implanting a stimulator in the hypothalamus. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the UK body that approves drugs and therapies for National Health Service (NHS) use, has not yet assessed either treatment.

Prevention of cluster headaches

As the medical experts are not yet sure what the causes of cluster headaches are, it is not possible to recommend proven measures for prevention. A comprehensive preventive strategy is vital for managing the cluster headaches – simply using acute therapies is not enough.

The following may help reduce the risk of future attacks:

Alcohol – during a period when headaches occur alcohol may trigger attacks. Abstaining from alcohol during these periods will help reduce the number of headaches. Alcohol does not appear to be a trigger during periods of remission.

Inhaled nitroglycerin – this medication causes blood vessels to dilate (enlarge) and can cause headache cluster attacks. The NHS (National Health Service), UK, recommends that cluster headache sufferers avoid this medication.

Exercising in hot weather – this is a well known trigger for cluster headache. Sufferers should avoid doing anything which may cause their body’s temperature to rise rapidly.

Smoking – a significantly higher percentage of cluster headache sufferers are smokers, compared to the rest of the population. Although not proven, some suggest that giving up smoking may help.