Everyone has experienced a headache at least once in their life. Many people prefer to take a pill rather than seek qualified help from a specialist. However, few people understand that, without knowing the main reason, one should not “heal” the body with various medications.

You can talk about what a cluster headache is and how it differs from the usual one for a very long time. Only those who have had to deal with it can truly understand this problem. By its nature, it resembles a migraine, but it is even more localized. The thing is that the latter can occur not only in the whole hemisphere of the brain, but also in its separate lobe.

Before moving on to the question "which headache pills should be taken in this case", it is necessary to understand the nature of this problem, namely, to find out how the cluster variant differs from the extensive one. According to available WHO data, 80% of people aged 20 to 30 suffer from this disease. This is quite enough to consider the problem large-scale. Currently, scientists from all over the world are constantly conducting experiments and research to find a universal cure for the disease we are considering. Unfortunately, now medicine can offer only single options that do not completely eliminate the disease.

Harbingers of illness

Cluster (bundle) headache implies a paroxysmal disease of unknown nature, which is characterized by episodes of intense outbreaks. It can last from 30 minutes to two hours.

As a rule, discomfort recedes as quickly as it begins. For example, a person may experience 15-minute attacks several times a day, and it also happens that he does not remember the pain for a whole year. Given the fact that this disease is chronic, treatment should be aimed at prolonging the period of remission.

According to experts, a single attack lasts no more than an hour and a half, which cannot be said about migraine attacks. Another characteristic sign of the onset of the disease is the “accurate schedule”. Migraine occurs only at certain times of the day (after dinner, at night in a dream or at dusk). Therapy very rarely affects the change of the side of the focus. Only in some cases, discomfort appears not on the right, but on the left and is less intense.

Some patients note that their pressure changes, the headache is also accompanied by general malaise.

Main reasons

Many doctors believe that the main provoking factors leading to the development of the disease are changes in the body's biological clock. This happens when the climate or time zone changes. The biological clock, according to experts, is responsible for enzymatic activity, hormonal secretion, body temperature, and a number of other physiological reactions. In patients with this diagnosis, it is assumed that the body has some difficulty in managing all of the above natural rhythms. The hypothalamus, which is responsible for the wakefulness of a person and his sleep, most likely lies at the root of this mystery. As you know, it can send impulses to the circulatory, central nervous system, causing the vessels to expand.

On the other hand, cluster headache can occur for the following reasons:

• excessive production of certain hormones (for example, serotonin, histamine);
• frequent stress and overwork of the body;
• various kinds of pathologies in the work of the hypothalamus;
• failures of neurophysical processes (most often they are observed during pregnancy or menopause);
• vascular pathologies resulting in a stroke;
• deviations in the work of the trigeminal nerve, which is located in the front of the head.

Currently, scientists and experts in this field continue to actively study the main factors that provoke headaches. The causes of the disease are most often individual. This means that you can proceed to treatment only after a detailed examination of the body and carry out therapy under the constant supervision of a doctor.

Symptoms

Migraine most often affects the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity during menopause, hormonal surge or stress. As for cluster pain, both men and women are almost equally affected. It is noteworthy that it is men of dense physique who abuse alcohol and smoking, despite all the prescriptions from the attending physician, suffer from this disease much more often. In fact, the causes of the problem are literally on the surface. Unfortunately, not all patients, after confirming the diagnosis, change their habitual lifestyle, give up smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages.

According to experts, the square contours of the face, the cleft chin, the blue color of the eyes - all these external signs play the role of aggravating factors in a disease such as cluster headache. However, these similarities are just observations. It is not known why people with these physical characteristics and habits are more susceptible to this type of pain, but doctors sometimes use these characteristics to make a diagnosis.

Symptoms appear suddenly, regardless of the person's age. But, as a rule, people from 20 to 50 years old fall into the risk group, most often thirty-year-olds suffer. It is also reliably known that in young children this disease is diagnosed very rarely. So how does cluster headache manifest itself? Its symptoms are:

• bright flashes of light in the eyes;
• the attack is sharp and burning in nature, pierces the head through and through;
• in some cases, pain may radiate to the temporal region, ear or jaw;
• nervous trembling of the eyeball;
• Horner's syndrome (omission of the eyelid);
• pallor, nausea, increased sweating.

As the headache increases, the eyes begin to water. From this kind of experience and discomfort, a person becomes irritable, he simply ceases to enjoy his usual life. When describing their sensations, patients say that there is a desire to literally hit their heads against the wall. There have even been cases of suicide.

Variants of the disease

1. Tick ​​Syndrome. In some cases, patients are confirmed not only this diagnosis, but at the same time trigeminal neuralgia. The pain is always localized on a certain side, covers the region of innervation of the same branch of the nerve, and is provoked by the same factors as cluster headache. It is the latter fact that indicates that in this case there can be only one ailment, and not two pathological processes. According to experts, the effectiveness of drug treatment has not been fully proven.
2. cluster migraine. In 3% of patients with this pathology, a migraine variant of the disease is observed.
3. Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania. The pain resembles cluster pain, but attacks occur much more often. Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, as a rule, is diagnosed in men, but is quickly stopped by taking indomethacin.
4. Post-traumatic headache. In some cases, after damage to the face area, discomfort occurs, similar to cluster pain. The mechanism by which this condition develops is currently unknown.

Diagnosis and examination

To confirm such an ailment as cluster headache, first of all, it is necessary to conduct a differential diagnosis. According to experts, in this case, the causes of the disease can be very different, ranging from cranial injuries to temporal arteritis. However, 70% of assumptions are eliminated after the patient accurately describes his complaints and symptoms, the schedule for their appearance. Unfortunately, today many people are postponing the treatment of this disease, preferring to find information on the World Wide Web, are interested in what to drink for headaches, and seek advice from friends and acquaintances. However, to relieve the pain does not mean to eradicate the problem. If the diagnosis was not confirmed in a timely manner, the disease will only progress, which entails more serious consequences.

Most often, after seeking help from a neurologist, the patient is offered to undergo the so-called magnetic resonance imaging. This examination is necessary in order to confirm or refute diseases of the vascular system, brain damage. To exclude the possibility of pain due to cervical osteochondrosis, you will need to take an x-ray of this area of ​​​​the spine.

What should be the therapy?

Before answering the question: "How to treat a headache?", It is important to note that it is impossible to get rid of this problem forever. In the modern world at the moment there is not a single person who would be able to overcome the disease. However, timely seeking help from a specialist can reduce the severity of the pain syndrome, the frequency of its manifestation. In no case is it recommended to leave the symptoms of the disease unattended, as its consequences can adversely affect the entire body.

Medical therapy

Frequent headaches bother many patients throughout their lives. They usually appear suddenly. To reduce the attack somewhat, a special analgesic therapy is prescribed. For treatment, drugs are used to reduce the severity of associated symptoms.

Pain therapy in the case of cluster headache includes:

• taking ergotamine preparations - to increase the tone of the dilated arteries and reduce the manifestation of discomfort (for example, "Ergotamine tartrate");
• intranasal administration of lidocaine in the form of drops;
• the use of triptans ("Zomig", "Imitrex") in the form of injections or tablets;

Medicines to prevent headaches are called prophylactic. It is recommended to resort to their help daily, even when there are no attacks. These include:

• Calcium channel blockers (Verelan drug) to reduce the number of headache attacks, as well as to prevent them.
• Frequent headaches can be prevented with corticosteroids. The main effect of such drugs is aimed at stopping the existing pain syndrome, but they are not used too often (due to side effects).
• Lithium carbonate (drugs "Litobid", "Eskalit") has an effect directly on the hypothalamus. Doctors believe that this area of ​​the brain is directly related to cluster headaches.

At present, scientists are still looking for a universal remedy that will permanently get rid of such an unpleasant pathology. It is noteworthy that in 2007, American experts conducted a number of studies involving psilocybin. The results were very interesting. Approximately 50% of patients either permanently got rid of this disease, or the number and extent of their attacks decreased significantly. Unfortunately, the experiment did not fully comply with the standards of evidence-based medicine, and the study sample itself turned out to be too small to conduct an adequate statistical analysis. Currently, there is no evidence of the effectiveness of this drug. Scientists are making new attempts and continue research.

In the 20th century, the results of an experiment using natural derivatives of tryptamine were already published in scientific publications. It is necessary to take into account the fact that the substance under investigation, namely psilocybin, is banned in almost all countries. That is why another attempt to organize a large-scale experiment is recognized as practically impracticable.

Help of traditional medicine

Today, unfortunately, many patients have such a diagnosis as cluster headache. Medications, as already mentioned, do not allow you to get rid of it forever. Moreover, some of them are addictive, which forces patients to periodically change their planned therapy. This is where traditional medicine comes to the rescue.

Folk remedy or drug - what to choose? Of course, you can not rely solely on the help of our grandmothers recipes. Cluster pain is a rather serious diagnosis that requires qualified treatment with drugs, and traditional medicine in this case can act as an additional therapy.

Other treatments

In addition to taking the above medications that relieve pain or reduce the number of attacks, there is another type of therapy. It is distinguished by the use of a high concentration of oxygen. What is such a treatment?

Immediately after the onset of the attack, the patient inhales 100% oxygen through a special mask. This requires an oxygen tank to be kept nearby at all times. After 20 minutes, the discomfort disappears, the patient is not bothered by cluster headache for several days or even weeks, the causes of which have not yet been fully studied.

Preventive measures

In order not to bring your body to the state of a critical attack, it is recommended that you follow all the advice from your doctor as accurately as possible. First of all, you should give up all bad habits. The thing is that alcohol and smoking exacerbate headaches. The causes of this disease in some cases lie in constant stressful situations, so it is so important to try to avoid them as much as possible. As a preventive measure, it is also useful to reduce excessive exercise, heavy lifting and reduce the usual amount of work. With regard to the latter, many patients do not understand how to leave work or reduce the load. Only after the disease has passed into the chronic stage, they begin to realize that the lost health can no longer be returned, including for money.

Experts recommend reconsidering your daily diet. You should consume more antioxidants, fresh vegetables and fruits, replace coffee with green tea, but this drink should not be abused. Wholemeal bread, fish and seafood, walnuts - all these products should be on the table at least once a week. It is recommended not to overeat, it is better to eat often and in small portions.

Many patients regularly ask themselves what kind of headache pills should I have in my first-aid kit? Firstly, these are blocking agents, for example, Lithium Carbonate, Verapamil. Therapy must necessarily take into account a possible allergic reaction to drugs, so you should also have their substitutes.

Spa treatment, according to experts, has a positive effect in solving this problem (the success of therapy increases by approximately 30%). It is very important to take into account all the above recommendations and do not forget about regular visits to the doctor.

Helpful information

Over-the-counter drugs based on aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen are very popular in our country. They can be easily purchased at almost every pharmacy. However, drugs do not always help to overcome such a problem as a headache. Symptoms, of course, they can somewhat reduce, but not completely eradicate the disease.

After the attending physician has prescribed the appropriate therapy, it is important to start it immediately. Some patients delay treatment, which as a result adversely affects the entire body. But as soon as the symptoms appear more often, and the pain does not go away for a long period of time, they remember the previously prescribed therapy.

It is recommended to take certain medications at the beginning of an attack. Doctors advise many patients to keep so-called diaries of headaches. They allow, if necessary, to adjust the treatment, evaluate its dynamics, choose the best therapy option, and also prevent the occurrence of side effects.

You have a headache? There can be many reasons and the success of the fight against a headache depends on the specific factors that caused it.

Let's see how it hurts.

Doctors distinguish four main types of headaches pain:

1. Migraine- these are pains of a neuralgic nature, which one is tormented every month and several times, and the disease “endows” another with its attention 1-2 times a year.
2. Tension headache- the most common, occurs rarely or often in each person. It can impede the daily activity of the patient, and if the pain is frequent, it is better to be under the supervision of a doctor. Such a disease does not pose a threat to health and life.
3. Chronic daily headache- if you have a headache for at least 15 days a month and more than 3 months, then this is your case.
4. Cluster (bundle) headache- the most severe pain of the above.

Let us analyze in more detail this cluster cephalgia (headache in scientific language).

The nature of the pain- resembles an unreasonable acute pain attack reaching its peak in a few minutes. For the most part, this is a unilateral headache of a permanent nature, localized in the depths of the orbit.

Sometimes the pains are so strong and long-lasting that they drive a person to suicide.

An attack can last from 40 minutes to several hours. Seizure frequency can range from one episode per week to six per day, but more often one or more attacks per day. The period of pain is usually extended for 1-2 months.

Scared in this disease two things:

• sometimes the period is delayed for six months;
• in 10% of patients, cephalgia becomes chronic.

But there is also a positive point - after the end of the painful period, the disease comes only after a few months, or even years. 3 people out of 1000 get sick.

This disease is a cyclic disorder and is directly related to the human biological clock. Attacks often occur at the same time of day.

Enzymatic activity, physiological reactions, temperature, hormonal secretion - all this regulates our biological clock.

Violation of this mechanism, apparently, can cause cluster headache.

The center of the puzzle can be the functions of the hypothalamus responsible for sleep and wakefulness, namely its ability to send impulses to the central nervous system that cause vasodilation.

Risk group

The risk group is people aged 20 to 56, the period of thirty years is most dangerous. In men, this disease occurs six times more often than women. In the 70s of the twentieth century, the scientist Graham made an attempt to identify a connection between the appearance and habits of men with cluster cephalgia.

In his risk group large muscular men, taller than average, with light eyes of green and blue color, coarse skin (like orange peel), square jaw, split chin, forehead dotted with deep wrinkles.

Most of them smoke more than a pack of cigarettes a day and also like to drink alcohol.

The provoking factor that causes a cluster headache is alcohol, which even in small quantities causes attacks. During remission, alcohol does not have such an effect. Other factors are unknown.

There are two types of cluster cephalgia:

1. episodic- 90% of cases, it is characterized by an alternation of a painful period (cluster), when an attack occurs day or night, with a period without pain (remission). The cluster period lasts 6-12 weeks, occasionally up to six months, and is most often tied to the seasons (autumn, spring). Some patients have 2-3 pain attacks per year, while others once every 2-3 years.
2. Chronic- in the remaining 10% of cases, the pain is daily and lasts for several years without a break. Chronic cluster pain can become episodic and vice versa.

Cluster headache has symptoms:

1. The pain comes without warning and there is no sign of it coming.
2. Extremely painful attacks, but for a short time and follow one after another throughout the entire period of the cluster.
3. Typically, this type of pain affects one person in the family.
4. The pain is always one-sided and is localized around the eye, but soreness can spread to the cheek, forehead or temple. Only in one of 6 cases the pain changes the side of the face.
5. A rush of blood to the face is possible - redness and sweat appears.
6. The eyelid on the affected side swells and falls over the eye, redness of the eye is also possible.
7. Vision may become blurry, and the pupil may narrow.
8. Attacks often wake up at night 1-2 hours after falling asleep. at the same time, the eyes are watery and there is nasal congestion.
9. During an attack, tachycardia is observed.
10. As previously mentioned, the seasonality of pain.
11. Alcohol can cause pain.

Diagnostics

Due to the characteristic symptoms, cluster cephalgia is easy to recognize.

But at the same time no testing methods which can be used to diagnose this type of pain. Diagnosis is carried out based on your description of the characteristics of pain and symptoms, so try to describe your feelings to the neurologist as accurately as possible.

Sometimes, to rule out other causes of headache, a computed tomography scan is also prescribed.

Treatment of the disease

Bundle Headache Treatment divided into prevention and a set of techniques for pain relief during seizures.

Some resort to self-medication - taking analgesics, but this is ineffective, since they act too slowly and the pain peaks long before the drug begins to work.

The best option is to seek qualified help from specialists who will prescribe you effective therapy. Treatment aims to relieve cluster headaches as much as possible and prevent future attacks.

Acute manifestation of alcoholic psychosis - requires immediate response and treatment, as it can be fatal.

Features of taking the drug Betahistine: instructions for use, reviews and other information that you need before taking the medicine.

Pain therapy

How to reduce pain:

1. Inhalations with 100% oxygen using a special device that includes a mask, a dispenser, and, of course, an oxygen cylinder directly.
2. Injection of the drug sumatriptan, using an injector.
3. Various triptan derivatives are also used, less effective, but also giving a positive result.
4. Strong drugs such as somatostatin, ergotamine, and lidocaine are often used. Reception is carried out only under the close supervision of a doctor.

Medicines that are best suited if you are overtaken by a cluster headache should be prescribed exclusively by your doctor!

Preventive treatment

Preventive measures are based on the daily intake of the prescribed drug throughout the entire pain cluster. Among they are distinguished:

1. Calcium channel blockers (calcium antagonists) such as Verelan (verapamil hypochlorite) - this prevents and reduces the number of seizures. It is prescribed for the prevention of episodic and chronic cluster cephalalgia.
2. Lithium, in particular lithium carbonate (Eskalit, Litobid) affects the biological clock of the brain (hypothalamus). It is prescribed for chronic cluster cephalgia.
3. Anti-epileptic drugs such as Decapote (sodium valproate), Topamax (topiramate). They are prescribed when other drugs do not help.
4. Corticosteroids - prednisone, it is used to relieve pain for a short period until the onset of the drugs, due to side effects, the number of doses is limited.

The drugs are taken under the supervision of a doctor, blood tests are performed due to the possibility of side effects.

Additional techniques

Additional methods pain can be intense physical activity, applying ice to the temples, taking vitamins, sedatives and sleeping pills.

Some are assigned non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hormones in case of long-term treatment. Acupuncture, laser therapy, balneotherapy (treatment with mineral waters), psychotherapy and auto-training are also used.

If there is no relief

What to do if the prescribed therapy does not bring relief?

If the cluster headache does not subside, prescribe other medications and look at the result. In some cases, I use combinations of two or more drugs.

headache diary

Keeping such a diary in which you indicate in detail how often your head hurts, at what time, for how long and with what symptoms it is accompanied - becomes a very valuable weapon in the hands of a doctor, both for an accurate diagnosis and for successful treatment.

Disease prevention

Now let's talk about prevention in everyday life. What can serve as the trigger mechanism from which a new period of seizures will begin? There is no 100% answer due to the uncertainty of the nature of the disease.

Provoke lengthening and severity of the pain period may:

• alcohol;
• smoking;
• lack of sleep (but a siesta, on the contrary, contributes to the disease);
• stress - play sports;
• certain dishes, such as aged cheese or long-term meats;
• prolonged elevated body temperature, such as when taking a bath or exercising;
• change in the usual daily routine;
• change of work schedule;
• moving to another climate zone.

Lastly, if you experience recurrent headaches, be sure to see your doctor. The sooner the cause of the pain is determined, the sooner you will return to your usual lifestyle and good mood.

Health to you and your loved ones!

Video: Cluster headaches

Medical animation on the topic Cluster headache and its consequences. Who most often occurs and in what part of the head is the focus of pain.

Cluster headache is an intense and burning pain that is localized mainly in one part of the head and manifests itself in a series of attacks. Quite often, a cluster headache is called a cluster headache because of the sensation of a cluster of a kind of cluster of pain in one place. Periods (clusters) in which seizures occur can last up to several months, after which they disappear for several years. Symptoms characteristic of cluster pain appear only at the time of attacks, after which they disappear completely. At the time of an attack, it is important to stop the pain in a timely manner and reduce the intensity of symptoms, after consulting with your doctor for this.

In the ICD-10, cluster headache can be assigned to several codes, depending on the causes that caused it. In most cases, she is assigned the code G44.2 "Tension-type headache." If attacks occur against the background of inflammation of the facial nerve, then the doctor can classify the pathology according to the underlying disease and assign the code G50-51.

Who is most prone to cluster headaches?

According to statistics, cluster headaches are quite rare - approximately 3-5% of the population. The most prone to cluster headache attacks are men, compared with women, the probability of developing pathology in them is 1:5.

The risk group for cluster head pain includes men who meet the following criteria:

• anatomical features - a cleft chin, a large physique, a square-type jaw, blue or light gray eyes;
• susceptibility to bad habits;
• age 30-40 years.

Cluster headache very rarely appears in childhood and is never diagnosed at birth.

Symptoms characteristic of cluster headaches

The manifestation of symptoms of cluster pain depends on the following forms:

1. Episodic - during the period of exacerbation, which can last several months, the patient may experience many intense, but short-term pain attacks. After that, seizures may disappear for a long period, for example, a year or more.
2. Chronic - severe symptoms disturb almost constantly, while the intervals of enlightenment between attacks are very short.

Cluster headache can be distinguished by the following characteristic features:

• A distinctive feature of pain is that the attack begins with a slight burning sensation in the eye sockets and temple, after which intense pain appears, which is rapidly growing.
• Lightning-fast development - only 10-15 minutes can pass from the moment of a normal state to the appearance of unbearable head pain.
• Duration - in most cases, one cluster attack lasts within 40 minutes, after which unpleasant symptoms disappear.
• Time of day for the development of an attack - almost always the pain appears at night between the 1st and 4th hour, its intensity is so high that the person wakes up.
• One-sided character - the pain always covers only one side of the head.
• Restriction of mobility - at the time of the attack, the patient freezes, the slightest movement causes him pain, so he is looking for a position in which the intensity of symptoms decreases.

Cluster headache is accompanied by accompanying symptoms:

• visual disorders - narrowing of the pupil from the side of the development of pain, blurred vision, tearing, swelling of the eyelid;
• the appearance of swelling and redness of the skin at the site of pain;
• nasal congestion and discharge due to mucosal edema;
• increased sweating, pallor, nausea;
• irritability, aggressiveness and nervousness;
• difficulty breathing and rapid heart rate.

As soon as the attack of beam pain passes, the symptoms disappear completely, and the patient's well-being improves significantly.

Causes of bundle pain

Medicine has not yet identified the exact causes of cluster pain, but their appearance is often associated with the following pathological disorders:

• hyperactivity of the hypothalamus - the reasons for the excitation of this part of the brain, which is responsible for the biorhythms of the body, are unknown to doctors, but it is believed that it is in this state that an attack of cluster headache occurs;
• inflammation or excessive sensitivity of the trigeminal nerve;
• hormonal failure - cluster pain provokes excessive production of hormones such as serotonin and histamine;
• vascular diseases;
• heredity.

If you are susceptible to cluster headache, its attack can be caused by a number of the following factors:

• smoking and drinking alcohol;
• off-season - attacks of cluster headache are most actively manifested in the spring and autumn;
• climate change - frequent trips and flights to countries with a different time zone lead to disruption of biorhythms and excitability of the hypothalamus;
• frequent violation of the regime of night and day - pain can be provoked, for example, by a shift work schedule;
• regular stressful situations;
• taking certain medications, such as nitroglycerin.

When diagnosing cluster headaches, the doctor assesses the degree of influence of these factors and the susceptibility to the described pathologies, and only after that prescribes the appropriate treatment.

Before prescribing treatment for cluster pain, the doctor must differentiate it according to certain signs and exclude the presence of other types of cephalalgia. Pathology is diagnosed by the following features:

• daily development of seizures at the same time;
• the presence of 5 or more seizures and remissions;
• the presence of symptoms characteristic of a cluster attack.

If the described signs are detected and other diseases are excluded by MRI, the doctor diagnoses cluster headache and prescribes symptomatic treatment, which may consist of the following methods:

• the use of oxygen inhalations at the initial stage of an attack;
• the use of nasal sprays and drops to relieve swelling of the mucosa;
• the use of medications that relieve pain and eliminate the root cause of their appearance.

Treatment with pills

Drugs in tablet form are prescribed both in the presence of an acute attack of cluster pain, and in the interictal period to prevent the development of attacks. The following drugs will help relieve pain and relieve associated symptoms:

• Ergotamines (Akliman, Ergomar, Gynofort) are tablets that block the release of serotonin and calm the nervous system and tone the walls of blood vessels.
• (Sumatriptan, Zomig, Imigran) - drugs that block pain attacks, constrict cerebral vessels, eliminate concomitant symptoms (nausea, dizziness).
• Painkillers (Ketanov, Lidocaine).
• Calcium channel blockers (lithium carbonate, verapamil).
• Anticonvulsants (Gabapentin, Topiramate) - prescribed for a series of severe seizures, accompanied by epileptic seizures.
• Tranquilizers (Afobazole) - as a prophylactic for stress exposure and the occurrence of cluster attacks against this background.

Treatment with folk remedies

With the help of folk recipes, it is impossible to stop an intense attack of cluster headache, however, it is sometimes possible to remove its residual manifestations and reduce the likelihood of development in the future. The following folk remedies and natural ingredients are suitable for this:

1. Turmeric is a spice that has anti-inflammatory and sedative effects. With regular use of it along with food, the likelihood of cluster attacks decreases.
2. Cayenne pepper - due to the action of capsaicin, which is part of the pepper fruit, which irritates the nerve fibers, headache attacks can be reduced. To do this, an ointment based on it should be rubbed into the region of the temporal lobes.
3. Pueraria lobata (kudzu) - in Chinese medicine, this plant is endowed with special properties. It is believed that infusions on its root help at the time of an attack to reduce pain, cope with dizziness, and also relieve ear congestion.
4. Ginkgo - fresh leaves of the plant help to normalize the hematopoietic system and thereby ensure the necessary blood flow to the brain tissues.
5. Walnut - the fruits of nuts have a beneficial effect on the vascular system, blood structure and the state of the nervous system. To do this, it is enough to use the kernels of 2-3 nuts every other day.

The intake of folk remedies must be agreed with the doctor and take into account a number of possible side effects and contraindications associated with individual intolerance.

Preventive methods for the occurrence of cluster headaches

Attacks of cluster headaches are easier to prevent than to stop. To do this, the doctor without fail gives a person suffering from pain attacks recommendations that will help to significantly reduce the intensity of the manifestation of attacks, as well as increase the time period between them.

• giving up bad habits, especially smoking and drinking alcohol;
• refusal of intensive physical labor and heavy lifting, causing severe overwork;
• normalization of the daily routine and provision of good rest, which will prevent the occurrence of biorhythm disturbances;
• avoidance of situations that provoke the development of stress and injure the psyche;
• participation in psychological trainings that help restore psycho-emotional balance;
• performing breathing exercises, mastering relaxation and meditation techniques;
• change in diet - 4 or 5 times the daily intake of food and the introduction of seafood, fruits, nuts, vegetables, fiber into the menu;
• regular intake of foods rich in vitamin B, or medications based on it as prescribed by a doctor;
• frequent exposure to fresh air;
• hiking, cycling, swimming pool;
• periodic passage of resort and sanatorium treatment.

Are you worried about something? Illness or life situation?

People prone to cluster headaches need to have medications with them that stop the attack, or know how to reduce its intensity with improvised means. It is important not to wait for the development of intense symptoms, but to take preventive measures when the first signs appear. You should also regularly visit your doctor, undergo diagnostics and follow his recommendations.

Cluster or cluster (grouped by common features) headaches are one of the most painful types of headaches. They are noted as tormenting, stabbing, and penetrating, and tend to be centered around the eyes. Cluster headache attacks occur very suddenly and without warning, with a peak within 15 minutes.

The number of victims of these "hellish" headaches exceeds 1% of the world's population. Men are much more likely to suffer from headaches than women.

Many people with headaches have a personal or family history of migraine. Headaches can be so excruciating that they sometimes drive people into severe depression.

Headache attacks can be:

- episodic. Attacks (i.e. seizures) occur regularly for one week to one year. They are separated by long painless periods that last at least one month. 80-90% of patients have episodic cycles. A significant number of people who experience the first cluster attack do not have subsequent ones;

- Chronic. Attacks occur regularly for more than 1 year, with painless periods lasting less than one month. 10-20% of patients have chronic cluster headaches. The chronic form is very difficult to treat.

typical cycle cluster headaches

- Timing of seizures. Cluster headache attacks tend to occur with great regularity, at the same time of day (for this reason they are sometimes called "wake-up headaches"). Most attacks occur between early evening and early morning, with peak times between midnight and 3am.

- Duration of attacks. Cluster attacks are usually brief but extremely painful, lasting from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours if left untreated.

- Number of seizures per day. During an active cycle, people may experience as little as one attack every other day, but sometimes as many as 8 attacks a day.

- Duration of cycles. Attack cycles typically last 6-12 weeks, with remissions lasting up to one year. In the chronic form, the attacks continue, and there are sometimes remissions. Cycles tend to occur seasonally, most often in spring and autumn.

primary headaches

A headache is considered primary when it does not occur as a result of another disease or medical condition. Primary headaches include:

- Attacks of chronic migraine. These attacks are very similar to cluster headaches. They result in several short and severe daily headaches with cluster headache-like symptoms. But compared to cluster attacks, these attacks are shorter (lasting 1-2 minutes) and they are more frequent (occurring on average 15 times a day). These headaches tend to occur in women and respond to treatment with the anti-inflammatory drug Indomethacin (Indocin);

- Hemicrania Continua. These are short-term, strictly unilateral headaches resembling neuralgia, with lacrimation, usually relieved by indomethacin, and occur mainly in women. In Hemicrania, the pain, which can range from mild to severe, occurs continuously on one side of the face. Periodic attacks can last from a few days to a week, and may resemble a migraine;

Short-term unilateral neuralgic headaches with conjunctival injection and lacrimation (sunct syndrome). These pains are stabbing, burning and sore in the eyes, may resemble cluster headaches, but the attacks here are very brief (lasting about 1 minute) and can occur more than a hundred times a day. Typical here are redness of the eyes, lacrimation, sweating of the forehead, congestion. These rare headaches are more common in men than women and do not respond to conventional headache treatments.

Causes of cluster headache

Triggers usually only take effect during an active cluster cycle. When the disorder is in remission, it rarely causes new headaches.

Pain usually grows from moderate to very severe within 15 minutes. Patients may feel agitated or anxious during an attack and often want to isolate themselves from others. Gastrointestinal symptoms are not very common.

In addition to pain, migraine symptoms may include the following:

swollen or drooping eyelids;
- teary eyes;
- runny nose;
- sweating forehead;
- intolerance to light and sound;
- restlessness and agitation;
- nausea and vomiting;
- dilated pupils.

Headache symptoms include: stitching, severe pain behind or above one eye, tearing of the eye, congestion in the corresponding nostril, changes in the eyelids, etc.

Headache symptoms that may indicate a serious disorder

Headaches indicative of serious underlying problems, such as cerebrovascular disorders or malignant hypertension, are uncommon (let us emphasize that headache is not a common symptom of a brain tumor). People with existing chronic headaches, however, might miss a more serious condition, believing it to be one of their common headaches. Such patients should immediately consult a doctor if the quality of the headache or its accompanying symptoms change.

Everyone should see a doctor for any of the following symptoms:

Sudden and severe headache that persists or increases in intensity over the next hour, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or changes in mental status (possibly an indication of a hemorrhagic stroke, also called a "cerebral hemorrhage");
- sudden, very severe headache, worse than you have ever experienced (possibly an indication of a cerebral hemorrhage or aneurysm rupture);
- chronic or severe headaches that begin after 50 years;
- headache accompanied by other symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, loss of balance, changes in speech or vision, loss of strength, numbness, tingling in the arms or legs (maybe a small stroke in the brain);
- headaches after a traumatic brain injury, especially if drowsiness and nausea are present (cerebral hemorrhage is possible);
- headache accompanied by fever, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting (possible meningitis);
- headaches that increase from coughing or exertion (possible swelling of the brain);
- throbbing pain around or behind the eyes or in the forehead, accompanied by redness in the eyes and the perception of halos or rings around light sources (possible acute glaucoma);
- unilateral headache in the elderly; the arteries become hard and knotty, there is no pulse (possible temporal arteritis, which can lead to blindness or stroke if left untreated);
- sudden at first, and then persistent, throbbing pains around the eyes (they may spread to the ear or neck, a blood clot in one of the sinuses of the veins of the brain is possible).

Diagnostics cluster headache

Migraine symptoms (light and sound sensitivity, aura, nausea, vomiting) are the main causes of frequent misdiagnosis. In some cases, patients inappropriately treat other types of headaches (such as migraine) or sinusitis.

- Medical and personal history. Cluster headaches, including recurrent attacks, are diagnosed and recorded in the patient's medical history, with their typical symptoms (swollen eyelids, watery eyes, runny nose). Keeping a patient's headache diary to describe the attack can help the doctor make an accurate diagnosis. The patient should describe to the doctor the following:

Frequency of attacks (if you keep a diary, you should write down the date and time of each attack);
- description of pain (stabbing, throbbing);
- localization of pain;
- duration of pain;
- intensity of pain (using scale as shown below);
- concomitant symptoms (rupture of the eyes, nausea and vomiting, sweating);
- any measures that bring relief (measurement of pressure, exits to fresh air);
- any events that preceded the seizures or may have caused them;
- any medications you are taking;
- your behavior during headaches (anxiety, agitation);
- snoring, sleep disturbance, daytime sleepiness (this may be due to sleep apnea, which is sometimes associated with cluster headaches).

Pain can be seen through a scaling number system:

1 = light, barely noticeable;
2 = noticeable but not interfering with work or activities;
3 = distracts from work or activity;
4 = makes work or activity very difficult;
5 = Causes complete inability to perform any activity.

- Medical checkup. To diagnose a chronic headache, a doctor will examine your head and neck and perform a neurological examination, which includes a series of simple exercises to test strength, reflexes, coordination, and sensation. The doctor may also examine your eyes. He may ask you questions to test your short-term memory and related aspects of mental function.

- Tests with images. A doctor may order a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head to check the brain for abnormalities that may be causing headaches.

- Exclusion of other headaches and medical disorders. As part of the diagnosis, the physician must rule out other headaches and disorders. If the results of the history and physical examination indicate other causes of headaches or serious complications, then extensive tests are performed.

Diseases associated with headache

- Migraine. Headaches are often misdiagnosed as migraines, but they are quite different. Headaches usually last from 15 minutes to several hours and may occur several times a day. One migraine attack continuously lasts for one or more days. Patients with cluster headaches and migraines tend to have difficulty walking and usually want to lie down. However, in both cases, the patient may be very sensitive to light and noise.

Other headaches. Other migraine-like headaches include short-term unilateral headache attacks and attacks of chronic migraine, which is the primary headache, and some secondary headaches, especially trigeminal neuralgia (TN), temporal arteritis, and sinus headaches. Cluster headache symptoms, however, are usually accurate enough to rule out these types of headaches.

Rupture of the carotid artery. A tear in the carotid artery (which carries blood to the brain) can cause cluster headache-like pain. This disorder may respond to sumatriptan, a drug used to treat cluster attack. Physicians should consider imaging tests for patients with a suspected first episode of cluster headache.

Orbital myositis. An unusual condition that produces swelling of the muscles around the eyes and may mimic the symptoms of a headache. Should be considered in patients with unusual symptoms such as eyeball protrusion, painful eye movements, or pain that does not resolve within 3 hours.

Seizure treatment cluster headache

Cluster headache management comes down to two main methods:

Acute therapy for timely prevention of attacks;
- prophylactic therapy to stop an attack or reduce relapses.

The most effective and studied methods for treating cluster attacks:

- Oxygen inhalation. Usually injections of drugs such as: Triptan, Sumatriptan (Imitrex) are approved for the treatment of cluster headaches. Options are intranasal formulations of Sumatriptan or Zolmitriptan (Zomiga). Oxygen and sumatriptan injections are sometimes given together.

Other drugs that may be used for acute attacks are dihydroergotamine or lidocaine nasal sprays.

- Prevent seizures. Cluster headache attacks are usually short, lasting 15 to 180 minutes, and the excruciating pain subsides, perhaps by the time the patient reaches the doctor's office or emergency room.

Because seizures can be difficult to treat, efforts should be focused on preventing attacks during cluster cycles. Although some drugs are standard, preventive treatment must be individualized for each patient. The doctor may also prescribe combinations of drugs.

Verapamil (Kalan), a calcium channel blocker drug, is the mainstay of preventive treatment for headaches. However, it may take 2-3 weeks for this drug to take effect. During this period, corticosteroids (usually prednisone) may be used as initial transitional therapy. For long-term treatment of chronic headaches, lithium can be used or, alternatively, verapamil. Anticonvulsants such as Divalproex sodium, sodium valproate (Depacon), valproic acid, topiramate (Topamax), and Gabapentin (Neurontin) are sometimes used prophylactically, although they are not approved for headaches.

- Behavioral Therapy - a useful adjunct to drug addiction treatment. These approaches can help manage pain and make patients feel better and in control.

Behavioral approaches include:

Relaxation and treatment combined with biofeedback;
- cognitive behavioral therapy.

- Lifestyle changes. Patients should avoid the following triggers that may trigger headache attacks:

Alcohol. Drinking alcohol, especially in large quantities, is strongly associated with cluster headaches;
- Smoking. Many studies show that the majority of patients with cluster headaches are smokers. While studies have not fully proven that quitting cigarettes will stop cluster headaches, quitting smoking is still a necessary goal in your recovery. Smokers who cannot quit completely should at least stop at the first sign of an attack.

Treatment of acute attackscluster headache

- Oxygen therapy. Inhalation of pure oxygen (through a mask, for 15 minutes) is one of the most effective and safe procedures for cluster headache attacks. This is often the first treatment. Inhaling through a mask increases blood oxygen levels and relaxes constricted blood vessels.

- Triptans. Triptans are drugs commonly used to treat migraines. They can also help stop cluster attacks. Sumatriptan (Imitrex) injections are the standard treatment for headaches, approved in many countries around the world. Sumatriptan injections usually work within 15 minutes. Nasal (nasal) spray can also be effective for some patients, and usually provides relief within 30 minutes. Sprays work best for attacks for at least 45 minutes, as well as injectable forms.

Zolmitriptan (Zomig) is another triptan medication used to treat cluster headaches. It is provided in the form of a nasal spray. Zolmitriptan has fewer side effects than sumatriptan.

Triptans have complications and contraindications:

Complications on the heart and blood circulation;
- serotonin syndrome.

- Ergotamine. Ergotamine injections, known as Dihydroergotamine (Migranal), can stop cluster attacks within 5 minutes in many patients, offering similar benefits to sumatriptan injections. Ergotamine is also available as a nasal spray and tablets. Ergotamine can have dangerous drug interactions with many drugs, including sumatriptan. Because Ergotamine constricts blood vessels, patients with peripheral vascular disease should not use this drug.

- Local anesthetics. Lidocaine, a local anesthetic, can be useful as a nasal spray to stop cluster attacks on the head. It usually takes 40 minutes to start working. Lidocaine may have an unpleasant taste. Some doctors recommend that patients try nasal lidocaine to see if it helps relieve pain. Be careful! Expired Lidocaine is fatal.

- Capsaicin is a compound derived from hot peppers. Some patients who have not received relief from other medications use it to treat or prevent headaches by taking it intranasally. There have been several studies confirming its effectiveness.

Preventive medicines

- Calcium channel blockers. These blockers are commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease, and they are also important in the prevention of episodic and chronic cluster headaches. Verapamil (Kalan) is a standard calcium channel blocker used to prevent cluster headaches. The full effect may take 2-3 weeks, and a corticosteroid drug may be used in combination with a blocker during this transitional period. Constipation is a common side effect. People taking calcium channel blockers should not stop taking them abruptly. This can dangerously increase blood pressure. An overdose can cause dangerously low blood pressure and a slow heartbeat.

- Lithium. Lithium is commonly used for bipolar disorder, and may also help prevent headaches. The benefits of lithium usually appear within 2 weeks of starting medical drug pain relief, and often within the first week. Lithium may be used alone or with other drugs. It can have many side effects, including trembling hands, nausea, and increased thirst. With long-term use, a common side effect is being overweight.

- Corticosteroids. Corticosteroid medications (also called steroids) are very useful as transition medications to stabilize patients after attacks before taking medications. Prednisolone and Dexamethasone (Decadron) are the standard steroid drugs used for short-term cluster headache and its transitional treatment. These drugs are usually taken for a week and then tapered off gradually. If the headaches return, the patient may start taking steroids again. Unfortunately, long-term use of steroids can lead to serious side effects, so they cannot be taken for current prophylaxis.

Steroid injections can also provide short-term relief. Some patients have benefited from anesthesia with corticosteroids in the occipital nerves, at the back of the head. Researchers are also looking into suboccipital injections (steroids are injected into the base of the skull on the same side where headache attacks occur).

- Anticonvulsants. Anticonvulsants, which are used to treat epilepsy, may be helpful in preventing headaches in some patients. These include older drugs such as: Divalproex, valproate (Depacon) and valproic acid (Depakene) and newer drugs such as Topiramate (Topamax), Gabapentin (Neurontin). More research is needed to evaluate how effective these drugs are in preventing cluster headaches.

All of these medications come with many side effects, including:

Nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- colic;
- tingling in the hands and feet;
- hair loss;
- dizziness;
- drowsiness;
- blurred vision;
- weight gain (or weight loss), etc.

Divalproex valproate can cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) as well as liver damage.
Women planning a pregnancy should discuss the safety of valproate with their doctor and consider other types of preventive treatment.

All anticonvulsants can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (dangerous tendencies). Patients taking these drugs should be checked for signs of depression, a strange change in behavior.

- Botox. Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are typically used to smooth wrinkles. But Botox is also being studied for the treatment of headaches, and is intended to prevent chronic migraines. Research on its use in the prevention of cluster headache is preliminary and there is not yet sufficient evidence to support its effectiveness.

- Melatonin. Reports indicate that melatonin, a brain hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, may help prevent episodic or chronic cluster headaches. Melatonin supplements are available in health food stores, but as with most natural remedies, the quality of the various preparations has not yet been tested as thoroughly for safety or efficacy. More research is needed.

Surgical treatment of cluster headache

In rare cases, surgery may be considered for patients with chronic cluster headaches who do not respond to other treatments. Patients whose headaches have not gone into remission for at least a year may also be candidates for surgery. Many of the surgical approaches to headache are still considered experimental and have only been tested in a relatively small number of patients so far. Surgery for cluster headaches has shown limited success, and can be alarming of side effects. However, some surgical techniques, such as deep electrical brain stimulation, have shown promise.

- Deep electrical brain stimulation(also called DENS) may relieve chronic cluster headaches in some patients who are not responding to drug therapy. A similar technology is approved for the treatment of tremors associated with Parkinson's disease.

The surgeon implants a tiny wire into a specific part of the hypothalamus. The wire receives electrical impulses from a small generator implanted under the collarbone. Although only a small number of patients have been treated with this treatment, the results to date are promising. Some patients with the electrode turned on remained completely free of pain for an average of more than 7 months. When the device is turned off, headaches reappear after a few days or weeks. The procedure is reversible and quite safe.

- Occipital nerve stimulation. Occipital nerve stimulation is being explored as a less invasive (no insertion into the body) and less risky alternative to deep hypothalamic brain stimulation. Recent studies have shown promising results in a small group of patients with cluster headaches. Some patients no longer feel headaches, others have reduced the frequency of attacks.

- Stimulation of the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve runs between the brain and the abdomen. Vagus nerve stimulation is a surgical procedure in which a small generator is inserted under the skin on the left side of the chest. The surgeon makes an incision in the neck and connects wires from the generator to the vagus nerve, then the doctor programs the generator to send out weak electrical impulses at regular intervals. These impulses stimulate the vagus nerve. The procedure is sometimes used to treat epilepsy and depression that is no longer responsive to drugs. It is also being researched as a possible treatment for chronic migraine and cluster headaches.

- Procedures to block or remove facial nerves that cause pain. Percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy (synonymous with radicotomy, an operation to cut the roots of the spinal cord) behind the trigeminal ganglion generates heat to destroy pain from the nerve fibers leading to the face. Unfortunately, there are complications, including numbness, weakness during chewing, tearing in the mouth and salivation, and facial pain. In rare cases, complications include damage to the cornea and loss of vision.

- Percutaneous rhizotomy behind the trigeminal node, with glycerin. This is a less invasive technique and it has fewer complications. It involves injections of glycerin to block the facial nerve that causes pain. Headaches usually recur after the procedure.

- Microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve. Microvascular decompression frees the trigeminal nerve from the blood vessels that put pressure on it. The procedure is risky, and complications are possible: damage to nerves and blood vessels, leakage of spinal fluid. There is ample evidence that it is not effective in the treatment of cluster headaches.

Forecast

Headaches can be unbearable. Eventually, seizures stop with age, but doctors cannot predict when and how they will end.

Complications of cluster headaches

Influence on mental and emotional functioning. Anxiety and depression are common in people with headaches, which can affect their functioning and their quality of life.

- Auras and medical risks. Some patients with cluster headaches have experience of aura-type migraine (aura is an optical phenomenon, pathology of perception 10-30 minutes before the attack). Research shows that headaches that are accompanied by an aura may increase the risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). The symptoms of a TIA are similar to those of a stroke, but are short-lived. A TIA is often a warning sign that a person is at risk for a more severe stroke. Aura headaches can also increase the risk of damage to the retina (retinopathy). Aura headaches can affect the small blood vessels in the brain and eyes, thereby increasing the risk of stroke and retinopathy.

Headaches usually come on suddenly and without warning, although some people have an aura-type migraine before an attack. The pains are deep, prolonged, with burning inside, behind or around the eyes. They then spread to the forehead, jaw, upper teeth, nostrils, shoulders and neck. Symptoms are usually on one side of the head.

Headache is a fairly common problem that many people face every day. In some cases, it is a symptom of some disease. But sometimes there are situations when a headache appears for no apparent reason. Cluster headache falls into this category.

What is cluster headache?

Cluster or, as it is also called, cluster headache is a primary problem, which means that no disease causes it.

This pathology is characterized by a narrow localization in a certain part of the head. Its symptoms are significantly different from other types of pain. Moreover, the manifestations are very strong, and this significantly worsens the quality of human life.

Clusters are periods in which symptoms appear. They appear suddenly and can even follow each other. But about a third of all patients have only one episode.

Signs can be observed within one or several days, but sometimes this period lasts for a month. If treatment is not carried out on time, then such a stage can be quite short, but after a period of remission, the disease returns again.

Who gets cluster headache?

This disease is most often detected in men older than thirty years.

But the first attack can appear in the period from twenty to thirty years. This disease can last up to sixty years and present with characteristic symptoms.

Pain bundles can be observed at different intervals - twice a year or once every eight years. The duration of such a beam can be from two weeks to three months. Cluster headache is characterized by some periodicity.

In the light period, a person completely forgets about the disease and can live a full life. However, in the case of the chronic form of the disease, remissions are absent or last no more than three weeks.

Allocate two forms of cluster headache:

• episodic. In this case, the symptoms of the disease occur relatively rarely and do not last long. Such attacks can last one or two months, after which they disappear. Remission can last more than a year.
• Chronic. This type of disease is characterized by more pronounced symptoms. Light periods may be completely absent or very short.

  Sometimes this form becomes episodic, and this gives reason to think that the disease has receded. However, treatment should not be neglected, because a reverse transition to the chronic form of the disease is quite likely.

Cluster headache symptoms

Cluster headaches are characterized by very specific traits, which help to distinguish it from other similar manifestations:

• Rapid development. At first, the symptoms may be minor, but after ten minutes the pain becomes so severe that the person is forced to take medication.
• One-sided character. Unpleasant sensations, as a rule, occur only on one side.
• duration. Most often, the manifestations of a headache are of a short-term nature. The attack itself lasts no more than forty minutes, after which it passes.
• Physical activity. is characterized by such a high degree of intensity that a person is forced to look for a position in which the symptoms will not be so painful.
• Development of symptoms at night. Most often, pain occurs between one and three in the morning. During sleep, pain appears that makes a person get out of bed.

To the most characteristic symptoms Cluster headaches include the following:

• A slight burning sensation occurs at the site of pain localization, after which the discomfort becomes very strong.
• Nasal congestion may appear, sometimes mucus is secreted.
• Redness or swelling appears at the location of the pain.
• Often there is a narrowing of the pupils.
• Vision may deteriorate.
• Sometimes the eyes are watery and the eyelids swell.
• A person complains of increased sweating.
• In some cases, there may be an increase in heart rate, shortness of breath.
• Due to the intensity of sensations, a person becomes nervous and irritable.
• After an attack, all manifestations immediately disappear.

Causes of cluster headache

Doctors make certain assumptions:

• hereditary predisposition. According to statistics, this factor plays an important role in the development of this disease.
• Impact on This also often provokes the development of cluster headaches. Sensory trigeminal fibers transmit signals to nearby fibers that affect the respiratory system.
• Excitation of the hypothalamus. This is a specific part of the brain that is responsible for the biological rhythms of the human body. There is evidence that cluster pain appears during the period of activity of the hypothalamus, but what exactly causes such arousal is still unknown.

  In some cases, treatments are directed specifically at this area.

Reliable reasons for the development of this disease have not yet been established.

Provoking factors

Cluster pain often develops completely suddenly, but in some cases certain factors still influence its appearance.

The most common of these include:

• Systematic violation of the regime of the day. If a person is forced to go to bed and get up at different times, the manifestations of cluster headache occur much more often and are of high intensity.
• Frequent flights and transfers. Most likely, the appearance of cluster pain is due to the fact that the biological rhythms of the human body are disturbed, and this has a certain effect on the hypothalamus.
• Alcohol consumption. If a person has ever complained of cluster pain, then an attack can develop as early as half an hour after drinking a small amount of alcohol.
• Smoking. There is evidence that smoking adversely affects the state of the brain and nervous system. According to statistics, smokers are most susceptible to this disease.
• Seasonality. The observations of specialists confirm the fact that the activity of the hypothalamus changes in spring and autumn, and therefore it is during this period that the disease worsens.

Headache examination

Due to the presence of characteristic signs of this disease, cluster pain is quite easy to identify. Additional examinations for the diagnosis of the disease, as a rule, are not carried out.

The diagnosis is based on a description of the nature of the headache. If the doctor has any doubts, he may prescribe additional studies to exclude other causes of the disease.

However, such procedures are rarely performed.

Serious changes in human behavior can be provoked, which is difficult to diagnose and treatable.

Neuropathic pain in adults can trigger the development of cluster headache. How to help yourself in this situation will help you figure it out.

In addition, cluster headache may be a sign of cerebral vascular sclerosis. Confirmation of this can be found by clicking on the link.

Treatment Methods

The main ways to deal with cluster pain include the following activities:

• At the very beginning of the attack, inhalations of 100% oxygen are prescribed. This procedure allows you to stop the attack, or at least makes it not so intense.
• To alleviate the condition, you can apply ice to the temples.
• To reduce the intensity of pain, you can take sleeping pills and sedatives.
• Reception is quite effective. For example, the drug "Sumatriptan" can be taken as an injection. Triptans are also available as nasal sprays or tablets.
• To eliminate a cluster headache, a solution of "Lidocaine" may be prescribed.
• Long-term therapy involves taking hormonal or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• For irrigation of the nasal cavity, "Dihydroergotamine" can be prescribed.
• With not very strong attacks, drugs such as Verapamil and Lithium Carbonate are prescribed.
• In the case of a chronic course of the disease, more serious means are used - Gabapentin, Topiramate and others.
• In particularly difficult situations, corticosteroids may be prescribed.
• Capsaicin is sometimes used as a nasal remedy.
• In some cases, surgical treatment is indicated.

The relief of headache attacks is carried out in different ways. First of all, it is necessary to establish the causes of the development of this pathology and try to eliminate them.

What to do if therapy is ineffective?

In the event that the prescribed treatment for cluster headache does not bring the desired results, it is necessary to change the drug used.

In some cases, the doctor may choose a combination of two or more medications.

Keeping a headache diary

With the help of such a diary, it is possible to obtain important information regarding the nature of the headache. In this document, it is necessary to record the frequency of occurrence of seizures, the time of occurrence and duration of pain, accompanying symptoms.

With this information, the doctor will be able to make the correct diagnosis, determine the factors that contribute to the onset of headache, and evaluate the effectiveness of the prescribed therapy.

Prognosis and prevention of cluster headache

Cluster headache can recur periodically over many years. At the same time, over time, most people notice an improvement: the number of cluster periods decreases or they stop altogether.

This is especially true for the chronic form of the disease.

One of the most effective methods of dealing with cluster headache is prevention. To reduce the duration of the cluster period and prevent pain attacks, it is necessary to take medication every day during the pain beam.

Prevention measures are considered quite effective, but they must be accompanied by constant medical supervision. To exclude the occurrence of side effects, it is necessary to periodically take blood tests.

Cluster headache is a fairly serious problem, which is characterized by severe pain. Therefore, it is very important to seek medical help in time. The specialist will be able to correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment that will significantly improve the quality of your life.

Olga Shkepu – Cluster headaches: