Cluster headaches consist of attacks of severe one-sided pain in the head. It is sometimes called migrainous neuralgia. Each attack develops suddenly, usually without any warning. Typically, you feel the pain mainly in or around one eye or temple. The pain may spread to other areas on the same side of the head. The pain is sometimes described as burning or boring. One attack lasts 15- 180 minutes, but most commonly 45-90 minutes.
The pain during an attack is usually severe. Attacks often occur at night, a couple of hours after falling asleep, and will wake you from sleep. During each attack, you may also experience other symptoms. These include:
Cluster headaches affect about 1 in 1,000 people. They are four times more likely to occur in men than in women. The first bout (cluster) typically develops between the ages of 20-40 years, but it can start at any age.
Research suggests that a part of the brain called the hypothalamus becomes overactive during each attack, although it is not known what causes this to happen. During an attack, the hypothalamus is thought to release chemicals (neurotransmitters). These may stimulate nerve cells in the brain to cause the pain and other symptoms. The nerve over activity may also cause a widening or opening up (vasodilation) of the blood vessels in the affected side of the brain.
Almost all people with cluster headaches have no abnormality of the brain that can be shown by scans or tests. In about 1 in 20 people there is another family member who also suffers from cluster headaches. In a very small minority of cases, cluster headaches seem to be triggered by a tumour in the pituitary gland (pituitary adenoma) or other brain tumours.
The diagnosis is based on the typical symptoms. There is no test that can prove the diagnosis. Tests are sometimes done if the diagnosis is not clear, to rule out other causes of headache. Sometimes tests such as a brain scan may be done to rule out a pituitary adenoma (as described above). Your GP may therefore refer you to a doctor with a special interest in the treatment of headaches.
Treatment is divided into treatments to stop (relieve) each headache, and treatments aimed at preventing the headaches. Some treatments are:
Managing headaches is not just a matter of finding the right medication. It requires proper diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan. KIMS has the best neurologist in Hyderabad who with his team of excellent staff tailors a complete program for patients focused on prevention, rescue and lifestyle changes through medical care and physical therapy.
Headache treatment in Hyderabad at KIMS includes all types of headaches including migraines, tension headaches, cluster headaches, hypnic headaches and cluster headaches. With the opening of KIMS, one of the best neuro specialist hospitals in Hyderabad, we are competent in giving absolute care for patients with intense cluster headaches.