Cluster Headaches
Symptoms What/Where, When, How Long
*Symptoms include: *Unilateral pain in head (one sided) *Typically centred over one eye, temple or forehead but can spread to a larger area. *Difficulty sleeping *Blocked or runny nose on same side of head as pain. *Droopy eyelid *Watering/redness in one eye *Flushed/sweating face What/Where?
Difference Between Different Forms Of Headaches Dr M. Hanna - Migraine Headaches,
*Symptoms can occur: *Often at a similar time each day. *At night (1-2 hours after gone to bed) which causes restless sleep. *Every second day or up to 8 times a day. *Spring/ Autumn (episodic) When?
*Symptom duration: *Pain reaches its full intensity within 5-10mins *Pain can last 15mins to 3 hours depending on the person. *It stops abruptly *On and off headaches can last 4-12 weeks ( 80% of people) once a year around the same time. *20% of people have chronic cluster headaches which last year round in waves. How Long?
Cluster headaches australiasevere Diagram of common symptoms
Causes Cluster headache pains are caused by the activation of the trigeminal nerve. There is no proven cause for this activation, but there are theories. Diagram of the trigeminal nerve
Hypothalamus One widespread theory is that the hypothalamus gland plays a role in cluster headaches. The hypothalamus is suspected as it regulates the circadian clocks of humans, and cluster headaches come during apparently set time periods. Also while some patients have been undergoing cluster headaches, PET scans have shown activity in their hypothalamus. An activation of the hypothalamus might cause vasodilation*, which could create enough pressure to stimulate the trigeminal nerve. *The process in which blood vessels dilate Diagram Showing the Hypothalamus
Secondary Symptoms Cause Although cluster headache pain is caused by the trigeminal nerve, secondary symptoms such as watery eyes, and nasal congestion, are caused when the trigeminal nerve sends signals to the parasympathetic system.* *A division of the autonomic nervous system Watery Eyes and Nasal Congestion
Triggers Cluster headache periods often commence when there is a seasonal change.
Triggers Both drinking and smoking have been shown to provoke cluster headaches, but neither are believed to be direct causes. *
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd-ndye-k5i Video Demonstrating a Cluster Headache Attack
* Cluster headaches are considered one of the most painful ailments. They are similar to childbirth in terms of pain but are deemed worse because the duration of the pain can last much longer. * Cluster headaches do not harm the human body in terms of long term damage, they only inflict large amounts of discomfort. As it is just nearly unbearable pain that they cause, death is not something this condition leads to. * However, because the pain can reach such extreme levels, cluster headaches are also known as suicide headaches. Medication and remedies can only do so much for the pain, so in some cases people have killed themselves in order to escape the pain. Mortality Rate?
Treatments There is no known cure for cluster headaches, which means there are only acute treatments, which help to lower the intensity of the headaches, as well as preventive medication, which help to prevent the headaches, but are only used after a cluster headache period has started.
Acute Treatments *Oxygen Inhalation * Triptan injections *Anesthetics A non rebreather mask, used to inhale oxygen.
Preventive *Calcium blockers *Anti-Inflations drugs. Ex: Prednisone (Can only be used for short term treatment, as they can be lead to diabetes and hypertension.) *Nerve Blocks *Melatonin Melatonin is also used to prevent cluster headaches.
Ongoing Treatment Research There is currently research about possible surgical operations to prevent cluster headaches. One concept is incorporating electrodes into patients heads, which would send impulses to the occipital nerve and would hopefully prevent or lessen pain signals. Electrodes
Who Is Affected? Approximately 1 out of every 1000 people suffer from cluster headaches. Although they are uncommon cluster headaches affect a wide variety of people. Both males and females can have the headaches, but males are more susceptible to them. It is not known why. Generally the headaches develop in people ages 20-50 years. Also studies show that 65 percent of people who suffer from cluster headaches are smokers. Cluster headaches do not appear to be hereditary. A chart showing the age of onset of people with cluster headaches. Young male smokers are more likely to suffer from cluster headaches.
A s Room for Further Inquiry *Is the hypothalamus truly the cause of cluster headaches? *Will electrode surgeries provide a permanent cure for cluster headaches? *I enjoyed learning the nervous system specific explanations for these headaches. *I found the information difficult to find, as research is still ongoing. *I want to know more about the occipital nerve s ability to stop pain signals
B s Further Inquiry *Why exactly are cluster headaches episodic? *I want to know if there is a difference in the biology of people who suffer the headaches once a year and the people who suffer from chronic cluster headaches *I found it interesting just how intense these headaches can be.
C s Further Inquiry *Why are males affect more than females? *How does melatonin help prevent cluster headaches? *How many people have committed suicide because of cluster headaches? * I found it interesting that experts are researching possible surgical treatments.
Bibliography *Beck, J. (2013, November 19). Cluster Headaches: The Worst Possible Pain? Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/20 13/11/cluster-headaches-the-worst-possiblepain/281524/ *(n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_ conditions/hic_cluster_headaches *Cluster headache. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/clusterheadache/basics/treatment/con-20031706 *Cluster Headache: Learn About Symptoms and Triggers. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cluster_head ache/article_em.htm
*Cluster Headache: Learn About Symptoms and Triggers. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cluster_headach e/article_em.htm *Cluster Headache Support. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.clusterheadaches.com/about.html