Cluster headache: causes, symptoms and treatment

Cluster headache is the appearance of intense and burning pain, which can be localized mainly in one particular part of the head. Such pains can manifest themselves in a series of seizures. Often they are called bundle because of the appearance of a feeling of accumulation of a certain bundle in one particular place.

How long do cluster headaches last?

The periods within which seizures occur can be delayed up to several months, after which they can disappear for several years. The symptomatology characteristic of cluster pain appears only at the time of attacks, after which it disappears completely. During the onset of an attack, it is very important to have time to eliminate the pain, and, in addition, reduce the intensity of the symptoms. If you have this kind of headache, you should consult your doctor.

Which people are most susceptible to pathology?

In the ICD system, cluster headaches can be attributed to several codes at once, which will depend on the reasons that this pathology arises. In most situations, this headache is assigned the code G44.2. This code indicates the presence of intense type of headaches. In the event that a person’s seizures result from inflammation of the facial nerve, the doctor can classify the disease according to the main pathology and assign the appropriate code: G50-5.

According to statistics, cluster headaches are quite rare, and this happens approximately in 5% of the population. Most are exposed to attacks of the bundle nature of the pain of a man. Compared to the female gender, the probability of their appearance of such a pathology is 1: 5. The risk group for the appearance of this pathology includes men who meet the following criteria:

1. The presence of an anatomical feature, which is expressed in a bifurcated chin, a large physique, and, in addition, in the jaw of a square type. Also, this pathology is usually found in those patients in whom the eyes have a blue or light gray color.
2. The presence of bad habits.
3. Age category from thirty to forty years.

Cluster headaches can very rarely occur in childhood and are never diagnosed at birth.

Symptoms characteristic of the disease

The manifestation of the symptoms of this pathology directly depends on the following forms:

1. Episodic form. Within this form, during an exacerbation that can continue for several months, the patient may experience a large number of intense, but at the same time short-term pain attacks. After these attacks, attacks disappear for a long period of time, for example, for a whole year or more. Symptoms of cluster headache are rather unpleasant.
2. Chronic form. Against the background of this form, severe symptoms bother a person almost constantly. The intervals of enlightenment directly between seizures are very short.

What is the pathogenesis of cluster headaches? They are distinguished from other types of cephalgia by the following features:

1. A distinctive feature of pain is that the attacks begin with a sensation of a slight burning sensation in the area of ​​the orbits and temple. Following this sensation, as a rule, intense pain occurs, which then rapidly increases.
2. The lightning-fast nature of development, in which only fifteen minutes pass from the moment of the usual state to the occurrence of unbearable head pain.
3. The prolonged nature of the pain. In most situations, one cluster attack can last up to forty minutes, and immediately after that, the unpleasant symptoms completely disappear.
4. The time of day when an attack develops. Almost always, pain occurs at night in the region between the first and fourth hours, and its intensity is so high that a person can wake up.
5. The one-sided nature of pain. The uniqueness of this pathology is that pain always covers only one side of the head.
6. Restriction of patient mobility. At the time of the attacks, the patient freezes, as the slightest movements cause him severe pain, in this regard, he tries to find a position in which the intensity of the symptoms can decrease.

Cluster headaches may be accompanied by the following concomitant symptoms:

1. The appearance of visual disturbances. This is expressed in the narrowing of the pupil from the onset of pain. The pathological condition is accompanied by visual impairment, and, in addition, lacrimation and swelling of the eyelids.
2. The development of swelling and redness of the skin in the area of ​​pain.
3. The appearance of nasal congestion and discharge due to swelling of the mucosa.
4. Observation of excessive sweating, and at the same time pallor, nausea, irritability, aggressiveness and nervousness.
5. Shortness of breath and increased heart rate.

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

Consider the causes of cluster headache.

Causes of occurrence

Medicine at the moment has not yet revealed the most accurate causes of this kind of pain, however, experts often associate its appearance with the following disorders of the body:

1. The presence of hyperactivity of the hypothalamus. The reasons for the excitation of this area of ​​the brain, which is responsible for the biorhythms of the body, are still unknown to doctors, but it is already believed that it is in this state that attacks of cluster pain in the head arise.
2. The presence of inflammation or excessive sensitivity of the trigeminal nerve.
3. The appearance of hormonal failure. It should be noted that cluster pain is provoked precisely by the excessive production of hormones such as histamine with serotonin.
4. The presence of vascular diseases.
5. Corresponding heredity.

The causes of cluster headache may be other:

1. The presence of bad habits in the form of smoking and drinking alcohol.
2. The off-season period. Attacks of the occurrence of this pathology can be most intensively manifested precisely in the spring or autumn period.
3. Change of climate by man. Regular trips with flights to countries in which a different time zone can lead to a biorhythm disturbance, and at the same time to the excitability of the hypothalamus.
4. Permanent violation of the regime of day and night. For example, such pain can easily provoke a shift schedule at work.
5. Staying a person in regular stressful situations.
6. The use of certain medications, for example, such as Nitroglycerin.

As part of the diagnosis of cluster headaches, the doctor, as a rule, assesses the level of exposure to these factors along with the susceptibility to the described pathologies, and only after that the appropriate treatment for the patient is prescribed.

"How to get rid of cluster headache?" - the question is not idle. About it below.

Cluster headache cycle

A feature of this pathology is that cluster pain attacks tend to occur with frequent regularity, at the same time of the day. In this regard, they are sometimes also called headaches, alarm clocks. Most of these attacks occur between evening and early morning, and peak times usually come from midnight to three in the morning.

The total duration of such attacks is usually short. But at the same time, cluster attacks are extremely painful. If they are not treated, they will last from fifteen minutes to one and a half hours. Against the background of the active cycle, patients can experience only one attack per week, but sometimes they can be as many as eight per day. Cycles of such attacks, as a rule, last up to twelve weeks. And against the background of chronic forms, seizures can last much longer. Cycles usually occur seasonally, often in the spring and fall.

Cluster headaches in children

Many parents, having heard a child’s complaints of a headache amid good general health, fall into bewilderment. Sometimes the head can hurt due to a high fever or a viral disease. But the sudden occurrence of an incomprehensible symptom for no apparent reason in an adult raises many questions, because it is unclear what this may be connected with and what kind of medicine to give to a small child.

Cephalgia is observed in children extremely rarely. It is characterized by burning, drilling pain of high intensity. Localization - the temporal and orbital region.

On average, seizures last from ten minutes to three hours.

Primary headaches

A headache can be considered primary when it does not occur due to another disease. Primary headaches include:

1. The appearance of attacks of chronic migraine. Such attacks often resemble a cluster headache. They lead to several short daily headaches with symptoms that resemble a cluster nature. But in comparison with them, these attacks are much shorter and can last only a couple of minutes. In addition, they are more frequent and can occur up to fifteen times a day.
2. The development of hemicrania. These are short-term, and at the same time, also strictly unilateral pains, they occur in the head and resemble neuralgia. They are found, as a rule, in women. Periodic attacks of such pain can last from several days to one week. Sometimes they resemble migraines.
3. Short-term unilateral neuralgic headache with conjunctiva and lacrimation. These pains are stitching, they cause a burning sensation in the eyes and are able to resemble the cluster type of malaise. But in this case, the attacks are brief, their duration is only a minute. They can occur more than a hundred times a day. A typical symptom in this case is redness of the eyes along with lacrimation, forehead sweating and congestion.

First aid for cluster headache is very important.

How is the treatment carried out?

Before prescribing a treatment for this pathology, the doctor must differentiate it according to a certain set of signs and exclude the presence of other types of cephalgia. The disease is diagnosed by the following signs:

1. The daily appearance of seizures at the same time.
2. Observation of five or more seizures, and, in addition, their remissions.
3. The presence of symptoms characteristic of cluster attacks.

If you find the above signs and exclude other diseases by undergoing magnetic resonance imaging, doctors diagnose cluster headache and prescribe symptomatic therapy, which may include the following methods:

1. The use of oxygen inhalation at the initial stage of an attack.
2. The use of a nasal spray or drops in order to relieve swelling of the mucosa.
3. The use of medications that stop the pain, eliminating the root cause of their occurrence.

Cluster headache is treated with medication.

Pills

Preparations in tablet form are prescribed both in the presence of acute attacks of cluster pain, and in interictal periods in order to prevent the appearance of attacks. What are these miraculous means? The following drugs usually help to eliminate pain and relieve concomitant symptoms:

1. The use of ergotamines, for example, Akliman, Ergomar and Gynofort. These pills block the secretion of serotonin and soothe the nervous system by toning the walls of blood vessels.
2. The use of triptans, for example, Sumatriptan, Zomiga, and Imigran. These drugs block pain attacks, narrowing the cerebral vessels and eliminating the accompanying symptoms in the form of nausea and dizziness. Medicines for cluster headache should be selected by a doctor.
3. The use of painkillers such as Ketanova and Lidocaine.
4. The use of calcium channel blockers, for example, lithium carbonate or Verapamil.
5. The appointment of anticonvulsants in the form of "Gabapentin" and "Topiramata." They are prescribed in the presence of a series of severe seizures that are accompanied by an epileptic seizure.
6. The use of tranquilizers, for example, Afobazol. This tool is used as a prophylactic drug against the background of exposure to stress and the occurrence of cluster attacks due to this.

What else is the treatment for cluster headache?

Traditional Therapy

Through folk recipes, it is impossible to eliminate intense bouts of pain in the head. But it will be possible to remove their residual manifestations, reducing the likelihood of occurrence in the future. So, for the treatment of cluster headache folk remedies are suitable:

1. The use of turmeric. This spice has an anti-inflammatory, but also sedative effect. In the case of its regular use with food, the likelihood of cluster attacks will decrease.
2. The use of cayenne pepper. Thanks to the irritating action of capsaicin, which is part of the fruits of this pepper, the intensity of headache attacks can be reduced. For this, the ointment prepared on its basis is rubbed into the area of ​​the temporal lobes.
3. The use of lobed pueraria. In Chinese medicine, this plant is endowed with special properties. In China, it is believed that the infusions made at its root help in moments of seizure. The use of the plant reduces pain, coping with dizziness, and, in addition, eliminates congestion in the ears.
4. The use of ginkgo. Fresh foliage of this plant helps to normalize the functioning of the hematopoietic system, thereby providing the necessary blood flow to the brain tissue.
5. The use of walnuts. These fruits have a beneficial effect on the vascular system, and, in addition, on the blood structure along with the state of the nervous system. For these purposes, it will be quite enough to use the kernels of three nuts in a day. The nice thing is that they are very tasty.

In any case, the reception of folk remedies should always be agreed with your doctor. Only a specialist will be able to take into account a number of possible side effects with contraindications, which are usually associated with individual intolerance.

What does cluster headache mean is now clear, but how to prevent it?

Prevention of this pathology

Attacks of this pathology are easier to prevent than to stop then. For these purposes, the doctor must give the person who is suffering from pain attacks the necessary recommendations that help significantly reduce the intensity of the manifestations of such cluster headache attacks, and, in addition, increase the time interval between them.

So, the standard preventive measures that are recommended for diagnosing this unpleasant pathology include the following:

1. The patient's complete abandonment of all addictions, especially from smoking and drinking.
2. A complete rejection of intense physical activity and weight lifting, which cause severe overwork.
3. Normalization of the regime of the day, along with ensuring a good rest, which will prevent the occurrence of jet lag.
4. Avoidance of situations that provoke the development of stress and traumatize the human psyche.
5. Taking part in psychological trainings that help restore psycho-emotional balance.
6. Classes in breathing exercises along with the development of relaxation and meditation techniques.
7. Changes in diet. As part of this recommendation, experts advise a four- or five-day daily intake of products. It is very important to add seafood, fruits, nuts, vegetables and fiber to the menu. It is also important for people to regularly take those foods that are rich in vitamin B. Also, medications based on it, as prescribed by the attending physician, are also suitable.
8. Regular stay of a person in the fresh air.
9. Hiking, cycling, and, in addition, access to the pool.
10. Periodic stay at spa treatment.

Conclusion

People who are prone to such headaches need to always have medications with them that help relieve seizures, or at least need to know how to relieve the intensity of painful sensations by improvised means. It is extremely important not to wait for the development of intense symptoms, but to take preventive measures in case of the appearance of primary symptoms. In addition, you should regularly go to the treating doctor, undergo a diagnosis and follow his recommendations.