Cluster headaches are uncommon and extremely painful conditions. While migraines occur in 10 percent of people, much fewer than one percent of people have cluster headaches. Cluster headaches have been described by sufferers as being more painful than childbirth or migraines.
Often reported as a hot, stabbing pain behind the eye or near the temple, they are characterized by happening at regular times. Cluster headaches tend to occur at the same time of day, last for an hour or less, then disappear to re-occur the next day. This can often go on for months or longer. Unlike migraines, which are sometimes preceded by familiar symptoms such as flashing lights, cluster headaches strike without warning.
The cause isn't known with certainty, but many researchers believe this debilitating condition occurs as a result of an abnormality of the hypothalamus. This small gland plays an important role in regulation of the 'biological clock' and changes in the length of day and other factors can influence its behavior.
One striking difference between migraines and cluster headaches is their gender preference. Of the 28 million Americans who suffer from migraines, nearly three times as many women as men are afflicted. Cluster headaches, however, are far more prevalent among men than women, and usually strike those between 20 and 50 years of age. The ratio of men to women sufferers ranges from 5:1 to 8:1.
A range of treatments are available, but the common ones used to combat ordinary tension or even migraine headaches typically have no effect. Aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen - though near wonder-drugs for other conditions - are usually ineffective.
One treatment that has been tried with some success is the inhalation of pure oxygen for several minutes. This is among the so-called 'abortive' treatments, since it only works after the onset of symptoms.
Another is one common among migraine regimens, a class of drugs called triptans. In order to speed delivery, it's often injected rather than ingested, however. Nasal sprays work quickly, but cluster headaches often produce swelling of the nasal passages, making administering the treatment by that route less effective.
Unfortunately, few preventive or prophylactic treatments are effective. Given the poor understanding of the causes and the rarity of the condition, this shouldn't be surprising. Though there are many treatments on the market, such as the use of CCBs (calcium channel blockers), the results are mixed.
Surgery has proved somewhat effective in the most serious cases. Other extreme treatments such as removal of part of the brain, nerve blocks, and other neurological surgeries can be used when all other options have been failed. Continuing research is being conducted on solving the causes and pain o cluster headaches.
Chronic Headcahes
Yet, here again, scientists have only tantalizing hints as to the cause of this stabbing pain localized behind an eye or temple.
FDA Panel Rejects Black Box Warning On Epilepsy Drugs A panel of experts that advises the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted last week to reject the Agency's proposal to make manufacturers of 11 epilepsy drugs put the strongest level of warning label on their products (the Black Box warning). The FDA had recommended the Black Box warning because studies showed the drugs had nearly double the risk of suicide compared to placebo, although in absolute terms it was still quite small.
Oxygen Therapy Might Ease Pain Of Migraine, Cluster Headaches Two types of oxygen therapy could offer some relief to adults who suffer from disabling migraine and cluster headaches, according to a new research review from Australia. Migraine headaches are severely painful and usually occur with other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and painful sensitivity to light. Cluster headaches cause sharp, burning pain on one side of the head.
Gene May Put Women With Migraine At Increased Risk Of Heart Disease And Stroke Women who experience migraine with aura appear to be at an increased risk of heart disease and stroke if they have a certain gene, according to a study published in the July 30, 2008, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. For the study, researchers followed 25,001 Caucasian women for the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and ischemic stroke.
In the case of aspirin, for example, Bayer - the German company - lost exclusivity, of both the compound and the name, as a result of Germany's loss of WWI. But for many, drugs are the best answer. Even here almost half of migraine sufferers never see a physician for their condition. These are so called 'aborters' or 'interrupters' - they help stop the migraine before it ramps up to the intense, pulsating pain familiar to migraine sufferers. Allergic reactions can produce a sinus headache, though this affects a relatively small portion of those who suffer from them. Many of the common accompanying symptoms are relieved by triptans as well. Even when food isn't actually toxic in general, such as being laced with a bacteria, certain individuals may be sensitive to compounds that won't affect people in general.
How it does this is in one way well understood, in another way quite a mystery.
They also have enormous resources to devote to creating and monitoring their manufacturing processes. The variety of types and multitude of symptoms create a complex set of factors that make it challenging to diagnose. Controlling depression will help to reduce the occurrence and severity of headaches. The period varies, but eventually the active ingredients in brand name drugs become legally available for other companies to manufacture and sell.