Cluster headache is considered to be one of the most severe types of headache in which the most prominent feature is the high intensity of pain experienced by the patient. It is a neurological disorder and in some cases the pain is far more severe than that experienced during a full blast migraine attack or during childbirth.

Cluster headache symptoms are often confused with those of a migraine as the pain is very intense but the two are different disorders and need separate treatments. Cluster headache is also known as suicide headache and is often taken too lightly by a number of doctors. In extreme cases, where the patient experiences debilitating pain, it is treated as a medical emergency. Since this disorder is not very common and the symptoms are quite vague, it is quite difficult for doctors to diagnose it at once, therefore, many patients are unable to receive appropriate treatment in medical emergency rooms.

Symptoms of Cluster Headache:

Most headaches respond to analgesics and general pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol. But in the case of cluster headaches these medicines fail to have any effect on the intensity of pain.

Cluster headache also does not respond to biofeedback.

Cluster headache is usually episodic and a single attack lasts fro 15 minutes to 3 hours. The pain can also subside all of a sudden and then begin again.

Most of the time the headache is unilateral or on one side of the head.

Many patients also report of suffering from ‘side shifting’ pain in the middle of cluster episodes. This means that the headache can also be bilateral but in very few cases.

Cluster headache is often mistaken for brain tumor or multiples sclerosis unless the patients undergo the required tests.

The exact cause of cluster headaches is still unknown but many factors seem to trigger it such as excessive intake of alcohol, cigarette smoking, exposure to toxins such as hydrocarbons and lack of sleep. There is no specific treatment for these headaches but various preventive medications known as abortives are administered to patients suffering from this type of headaches. Transitional medications and steroids are also given to prevent cluster headache episodes. Acute medications comprising of injections and inhalers are given to the patient to reduce the intensity of the pain and duration of an episode as they are more effective than oral medicines. The last option left for patients suffering from crippling pain is surgery, but it is rarely recommended.