What is a Cluster Headache?

What It Is

A cluster headache is a severe, one-sided headache that recurs in groups or clusters. As the name suggests, this type of headache exhibits a clustering of painful attacks over a period of many weeks. Someone who has a cluster headache may then get several headache for a day for weeks or even months at a time.

This can obviously be very distracting and cause serious consequences in a person’s life, as they may end up having to take time off work or have children that they have to deal with.

Treatment

This is where treatment of a cluster headache would come into play. Fortunately, cluster headache treatment thus far has been very successful, and so if you are a sufferer of cluster headaches, you can at least rest assured knowing that you will be able to get the help that you need and get back to living your normal life once again.

In order to find the right treatment, you are going to need to talk to your doctor. They will listen to how you describe your cluster headaches, and ask you a few pointed questions. From this they will be able to determine how serious your condition is and what the best treatment method is going to be in your case.

You can actually treat your cluster headaches right at home under a doctor’s care. Preventive treatment is the best step, because this way you can actually prevent your cluster headache before it even happens. This requires taking certain medication, such as beta-blockers and anticonvulsants. Again, only your doctor will be able to determine which are going to be best for you.

There is also the abortive treatment, which means treatment that would help a headache once it has already started. You should always have a form of abortive treatment available, on hand in your home so that if the preventive measures are not enough you can still deal with the pain.

Make sure that you give any treatment you try some time to work. Medications often take quite a bit of time to start working in the body so have patience.