Cluster headaches are a group of headache disorders, and are the most frequent of the headache syndromes known as trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. The phrase “cluster headaches” refers to how these episodes occur in groups, or ‘clusters’. During a cluster cycle, short yet brutally painful headache episodes can occur 1-8 times everyday. Cluster cycles can last weeks or even months and are generally separated by remission periods, or times without headaches, which might last months or years.

Signs and symptoms

These are some of the most prevalent symptoms of cluster headaches:

• Pain that appears suddenly, usually around or behind the eyes
• In around 10 to 15 minutes, the pain reaches a peak
• Agitation or restlessness
• Eyes that are red or watery
• Congestion in the nose
• Sweating on the brow
• Drooping or swollen eyelids

The symptoms of cluster headaches may resemble those of other medical diseases. Consult your doctor for a diagnosis if you feel your condition is not good.

Causes

Doctors are unsure what causes cluster headaches. But, It appears to be connected to the body’s abrupt production and secretion of histamine (a chemical in the body produced during an allergic reaction) or serotonin (a chemical created by nerve cells) in the region of the trigeminal nerve in the face. An issue in the hypothalamus, a tiny region near the base of the brain, might be at the root of the problem. Some reports suggest that men are more impacted than women. Headaches can affect anyone at any age but are most frequent between the ages of 20 and 40. They usually run in families.