Content
Cluster headache is a very uncomfortable situation and is characterized by severe headache, which occurs in crises, and which occurs only on one side, with pain behind and around the eye on the same side of the pain, runny nose and inability to do any other activity, since the pain is quite severe.
Cluster headache has no cure, however the treatment indicated by the neurologist aims to relieve symptoms and reduce the frequency of attacks, and it may be necessary to use some medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids and, in some cases, use of an oxygen mask.
Cluster headache symptoms
The symptoms of cluster headache are quite uncomfortable, and the person may have episodes of severe headache 2 to 3 times a day for about 15 to 20 days. In addition, it is common for at least one of these episodes to happen during the night, usually 1 to 2 hours after falling asleep. Other signs and symptoms that are usually indicative of cluster headache are:
- Throbbing pain only on one side of the head;
- Red and watery eye on the same side of the headache;
- Pain behind and around the eye;
- Swelling of the face on the pain side;
- Difficulty opening the eye completely on the pain side;
- Nasal discharge;
- Headache that lasts between 15 minutes and 3 hours, being more common to last up to 40 minutes;
- Inability to perform any activity due to severe headache;
- Pain is not influenced by light or food;
- Discomfort in the affected region after decreased pain.
It is not known when the crisis will end, but some people report that the headaches begin to be more widely spaced, with fewer episodes per day, until it disappears completely, returning only months or years later. In addition, it is not possible to know what can trigger a new crisis after months apart.
Thus, the doctor can diagnose cluster headache by observing the symptoms presented by the person, and it may also be recommended to perform magnetic resonance imaging, for example, to check for any brain changes. In the absence of changes, the person is usually considered to have cluster headache. However, the diagnosis is time-consuming and is made by the neurologist after months or years and, therefore, it is common that not all patients are diagnosed in their first cluster headache attack.
Main causes
In most patients, stress and tiredness are related to the onset of crises, but there is no scientific proof of this fact. The age at which this type of migraine begins to manifest is between 20 and 40 years old, and although the cause is unknown, the majority of patients are men.
The causes of cluster headache are believed to be related to the malfunction of the hypothalamus, because it appears to be related to the circadian cycle, which regulates sleep and wake time, but despite this, its cure has not yet been found and its causes have not yet been found. are fully known.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for cluster headache should be guided by the neurologist and aims to reduce the intensity of pain and make the crisis last for less time. Thus, the doctor may recommend the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, triptanes, ergotamine, opioids and use of a 100% oxygen mask in times of crisis.
As crises are more common at night, a good tip is for the individual to have an oxygen balloon at home, when a crisis period begins. Thus, the pain decreases considerably making it more bearable.Taking 10 mg of melatonin before bed can also relieve symptoms and decrease the risk of a flare-up.
In addition, the patient cannot drink any alcohol or smoke because they can trigger an episode of headache immediately. However, outside the crisis period a person can consume alcoholic beverages socially because they will not trigger a new crisis period.
Possible side effects
Despite the benefits of pain relief, prescription drugs for cluster headaches can have nausea, dizziness, weakness, redness in the face, heat in the head, numbness and tingling in the body, for example.
However, the use of oxygen masks for 15 to 20 minutes, with the patient sitting and leaning forward, brings rapid pain relief between 5 and 10 minutes and has no side effects when the patient does not have associated respiratory diseases.
Common painkillers like Paracetamol have no effect on pain relief, but soaking your feet in a bucket of hot water and placing ice packs on your face can be a good home remedy because it decreases the caliber of brain blood vessels, being very useful in fighting pain.