For a small segment of the population, cluster headaches can cause severe pain with little warning. Cluster headaches can strike seemingly random intervals, for which the name “cluster” is given. Patients can go years without a single cluster headache, and suddenly suffer them for a period of weeks on end. The cause behind cluster headaches remains a mystery, although it is thought that stress, alcohol, and drugs can all play a role in promoting an attack. Even without these factors, however, a series of cluster headaches can befall a patient at any time in their life. A cluster headache is easy to differentiate from a normal headache because of its severity and distinct symptoms.
A sufferer of a cluster headache sometimes experiences a runny nose or eyes. The pain tends to focus behind one eye, and can be explained as like having an icepick driven into the eye. This extremely uncomfortable sensation sometimes becomes very painful, often times triggering a pain crisis in the patient. The pain is often intense enough to trigger great emotional stress. Immediate treatment is very important. Sedatives and pain killers can do a great deal to mitigate the devastating pain frequently associated with a cluster headache.
Cluster headache treatment is a difficult process because of the seemingly random nature of their attacks. Instead of always remaining on medication, cluster headache treatment is typically limited to lifestyle choices. Avoiding drugs and alcohol should be a mandatory first step. Although prevention is difficult, cluster headache treatment can reduce the pain of the first attack significantly.
Frequent cluster headaches should be a signal to see the doctor. Although cluster headaches may happen totally at random, they may sometimes be a sign of a deeper neurological issue. If this is the case, it is important that treatment be sought as soon as possible. Some forms of stress management may also be considered effective cluster headache treatment. Although the role of stress in cluster headache treatment cannot be known for certain, it is thought to play a role, and could potentially have an effect on the cluster variety of headaches. Significant emotional stress should be managed carefully to prevent a possible cluster headache occurence.
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