Before using any of the cluster headache treatment available to you there’s a couple of thing you should be aware of. But first I think it would be a good idea to better inform you about what cluster headaches really are before going into the different cluster headache treatment. Don’t you think?

What are Cluster Headaches?

Cluster headaches also known as “Suicide headache” are considered some of the most extreme and painful headaches you can get. They usually occur in group or clusters in your head. The sufferers from these types of headaches experience symptoms like: Very severe headaches near one eye or around the temple area. The duration of those headaches can vary between fifteen minutes to three hours.

What are The Cluster Headaches Treatment Options?

Unfortunately there is not many options when it comes to cluster headache treatment. One of the best to date is know as “abortive treatment” and is quite simple. During the onset of a cluster headache the most common type of abortive treatment is the inhalation of pure oxygen.

This technique as been known to abort cluster headache attacks in as little as 5 minutes; however the downside is that you need to have oxygen ready at any time just in case you would have another attack.

Of course like any other condition there is always the use of over-the-counter medicine for this particular type of headaches. Unfortunately this kind of cluster headache treatment is not considered as being very effective. A lot of people complain that they tried all the different prescriptions and that none of them was able to remove the pain of the cluster headache.

Of all the headache types out there, cluster headaches are probably the worst kind. If you are suffering from this type of headache, I can imagine how hopeless you might feel. Unfortunately there is very small quantity of helpful treatments available to you.

Rest assured, there is hope for you. I know this is not an easy situation but you should avoid getting frustrated and remain calm about it. Of course it will take time and effort but you will eventually be able to find some form of treatment that will help you feel with the pain.

The best option for you would be to talk to your doctor. The diagnosis you will get will help you find the best treatment possible according to your condition.



By: Frederic Madore

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Gabrielle M asked:


I am a college student and I have been under a lot of stress recently which leads to me having major tension headaches. I currently have a tension headache and I took Excedrin Tension and that helps a little bit but my neck and shoulders feel like they have knots in them and my upper back, in between my shoulder blades hurts.
No one is around right now to give me a massage so I need some advice. Help please
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am sick of this damn headache

kiesteroo asked:


I get tension headaches pretty easily, mostly caused by stress. Besides the usual remedies of drinking water, taking tylenol, etc., is there anything else I can do?

Jonnymule asked:

The waiting hurts almost as much!

If you suffer from migraine headaches you know how debilitating they can be. You have probably tried a number of migraine treatments with little or no relief as well, which makes you feel like banging your head against the wall.

Why not, it couldn’t hurt any worse, right? You dread the moment you get the first sign, or aura, of a migraine coming on. You start to see spots, feel sensitive to light, smells, or sounds, and may feel dizzy or nauseated.

You just want to find a dark room and tuck yourself into bed somewhere. Migraine sufferers are unable to function at work, school, or anywhere else for that matter. According to The National Migraine Association, also known as MAGNUM (http://www.migraines.org), reports that 36 million people in the United States suffer from migraine headaches.

With improved recognition of symptoms and diagnosis by health care providers, a 60% increase in migraine sufferers has been noted over the past decade. Migraines are different in each individual and not everyone experiences the same symptoms, which is why some migraine treatments are more effective than others, making the process somewhat complicated.

Migraine headaches are a neurological disease with biological causes that are often hereditary. Migraine treatments have improved immensely over the years, but are not effective for everyone, not to mention the side effects that some people experience.

Migraine treatments are divided into separate group. There are preventive or prophylactic medications and alternative therapies for migraine treatment, and there are those that work to ward off symptoms once a migraine has ensued. Prescribed medications used in migraine treatment are beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, anti-depressants, and Depakote (an anti-seizure drug).

Alternative prophylactic migraine treatments include feverfew leaf, butterbur root, vitamin B12, and magnesium supplementation. New research is also looking to the gut, which may be the origin of migraine headaches in some sufferers.

If preventive therapy is not completely effective, prescription medications such as Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, Relpax, Midrin, and Migranal can be used which lessen the severity and duration of migraines by initiating cerebral vasoconstriction.

If migraine treatment is sought in a physician’s office or emergency room, a narcotic injection can be administered, such as Stadol, Phenergan, or Vistril, which are non-vasoconstricting agents used in the event other treatments are contraindicated.

These are all effective migraine treatments, but remember that not all will help every migraine sufferer. Other alternative treatments such acupuncture, biofeedback, and chiropractic manipulation have also proven to be effective migraine treatments in some patients.

Avoiding certain migraine triggers is an important intervention that can be used by all “migrainuers”, such as avoiding certain foods and alcoholic beverages than have caused migraines in the past, and wearing sunglasses in bright sunlight.

If you suffer from migraine headaches and you are not getting relief from your current migraine treatment regimen, then schedule a consultation with your health care provider. It is possible to get better relief and have fewer episodes, which will greatly improve your emotional outlook and quality of life.



By: Scott Michaels

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Jen?Cubs asked:


I’ve had a headache every day for a week and today was the same. Then about 3:00 I heard some loud music and suddenly my headache was a lot worse, throbbing and I felt really nauseaus. I had to go lie down and my head hurt so bad. Any light and sound made it 3x worse, which I’ve heard is a migraine. It finally went away about 2 hours later after laying down and taking Excedrin. How do you know the difference between a migraine and headache and is there anything a doctor can do or would he just tell me to take OTC medicine?

There are several types of headache treatment products in your local health store to help provide relief. If you find yourself constantly suffering from headaches, then it is in your best interest to know what these are. In general, these headache treatment products can be classified according to whether they fall under allopathic or natural treatments.

Allopathic headache treatment products include OTC aspirin and Tylenol as well as stronger prescribed medications that you can get from your doctor. Allopathic products are based on conventional medicine. It is widely know that while conventional medications provide instantaneous relief, they also produce various side effects as well as increase your risk to developing rebound headaches.

Hence, if you find that your headache pains are not all that severe or if you prefer to reduce your dependence on drugs for pain relief, there are also natural treatments available to choose from. Natural headache treatment products are based on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage therapy and homeopathy, or are derived from practices that got passed down for many years.

One of the most famous headache treatment products that is derived from Chinese sources is known as the Tiger Balm. It is made from herbal ingredients and is a topical pain relieving ointment that helps relieve aches and pains such as headaches. Simply applying to the side of your head with the throbbing pain is known to be pretty effective.

Other than this, if you are at a loss of which headache treatment product to choose, then one good way is to analyze your lifestyle and to find out what triggers your headaches. For instance, your headache attacks may be largely triggered by stress. This being the case, you should then search for headache pain treatment products that help reduce tension naturally. Doing so will help lower the frequency and severity of your headaches. Your options may include getting aromatherapy candles that help in de-stressing or a massage chair for muscle relaxation.

If your headache is triggered as a result of poor sleeping postures, then headache treatment products that provide your back and neck with support should be considered. There are sleeping pillows or good quality mattresses designed to help those with severe migraines or back problems.

Recent double blind studies show that natural headache treatments are effective in providing relief and that these options are preferred. Hence, if you have only considered using drugs for headache relief in the past, now you are wiser. Due to good market demand, the industry for natural treatment products produced for headache is doing a booming business and with good reasons.



By: Sandra Kim Leong

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c dyan asked:


a friend of mine suffers from cluster headaches. he says its the most unbearable pain you can go through. He has searched the net for specialists in this field. I too have looked. Please does anyone know of a Doctor who can help. Has anyone gone through this and found a doctor that helped you? I need help!!

Migraine is a neurological disease. A migraine is a very painful type of headache. In some cases, these painful headaches are preceded or accompanied by a sensory warning sign (aura), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg. More than 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraine, with women being affected three times more often than men. This vascular headache is most commonly experienced between the ages of 15 and 55, and 70% to 80% of sufferers have a family history of migraine. Migraine is the second most common type of headache syndrome in the United States. Tension headaches are the most common. Migraines most commonly are found in women, with a 3:1 female-to-male ratio. In childhood, however, migraines are more common in boys than in girls. More than 80% of patients who develop migraines will have a first attack by age 30. Migraines continue through the patient’s 30s and 40s. Less than half of all migraine sufferers. Migraine is often misdiagnosed as sinus headache or tension-type headache. Migraines’ secondary characteristics are inconsistent. Triggers precipitating a particular episode of migraine vary widely. The efficacy of the simplest treatment, applying warmth or coolness to the affected area of the head, varies between persons, sometimes worsening the migraine. A particular migraine rescue drug may sometimes work and sometimes not work in the same patient.

Migraine pain is caused by vasodilation in the cranial blood vessels (expansion of the blood vessels), while headache pain is caused by vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels). Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Some people can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision. Migraines are classified as either “with aura” or “without aura.” An aura is a group of neurological symptoms, usually vision disturbances that serve as warning sign. Patients who get auras typically see a flash of brightly colored or blinking lights shortly before the headache pain begins. However, most people with migraines do not have such warning signs. Migraines often begin in adolescence, and are rare after age 60. Eighty percent of migraine sufferers experience “migraine without aura. Some of the symptoms associated with migraine headaches, such as nausea (80%), vomiting (50%), yawning, irritability, hypotension, and hyperactivity, can be associated with dopamine receptor activation. Dopamine receptor hypersensitivity has been shown experimentally with dopamine agonists such as apomorphine, bromocriptine, and pergolide. Dopamine antagonists, such as metoclopramide (Reglan), haloperidol (Haldol), and prochlorperazine (Compazine), have been shown clinically to treat migraine headaches effectively.

There is no specific cure for migraine headaches. Many factors may contribute to the occurrence of migraine attacks. They are known as trigger factors and may include diet, sleep, activity, psychological issues as well as many other factors. The goal is to prevent symptoms by avoiding or altering triggers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are helpful for early and mild headache. NSAIDs include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and others. A recent study concluded that a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine could effectively relieve symptoms for many migraine patients. Migraine-specific medications and analgesia are the keys of ED care. Triptans are a mid-line treatment suitable for many migraineurs with typical migraines. They may not work for atypical or unusually severe migraines, transformed migraines, or status (continuous) migraines.Rest in a darkened, quiet room is helpful. Alternative treatments are aimed at prevention of migraine. Migraine headaches are often linked with food allergies or intolerances. Identification and elimination of the offending food or foods can decrease the frequency of migraines and/or alleviate these headaches altogether. Herbal therapy with feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) may lessen the frequency of attacks. Some patients find cool compresses to painful areas helpful.



By: Juliet Cohen

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Have you ever experienced a sudden and excruciating pain as if your eyes are about to jump out of their sockets? If these pain episodes occur at the same time within days, or only during certain times of seasons, then most likely, you are suffering from cluster headaches.

A cluster headache is definitely one of the most painful form of headaches but there are many other types of headaches identified by medical experts, such as migraines and the caffeine and the cervicogenic headaches.

It should be noted that people suffering from cluster headaches should not worry that much because this type of headache typically is not arising from another underlying and probably more serious illness.

However, to be safe, a person suffering sudden and sharp headaches more often should still consult the doctor for proper education about this type of headache.

Cluster headache attacks

Cluster headaches were called such because the headache episodes occur frequently and at the same time within periods. For example, a person may experience terrible headache every 2 p.m. of the day for the whole summer. After summer, that person will not feel the headache anymore, until the following summer, when the cluster of headaches start to reappear.

Often, the area affected by the excruciating headache pain is also remain on that particular and same area of the head. It is rare that the center of the pain on cluster headaches transfer to another site or region of the head.

On the next cluster of headache attacks, it is weird and amazing to note that the pain would remain on that site where the pain is excruciatingly felt during the duration of the attacks.

Another striking uniqueness of the cluster headache is its timing and duration. On the average, a cluster headache attack lasts about 45 to 90 minutes. Experts note that attacks also more than often occur at certain times of the day, usually about 1 to 2 in the morning, or between 1 to 3 in the afternoon. Reported cases also occur at about 9 in the evening before the sleeping time of the patient.

Another distinct quality of this type of headache is that it occurs abruptly and also ends as abruptly. The pain is almost unbearable that patients normally scream or bang their heads during attacks. There were cases when patients attempted to commit suicide to free themselves from the suffering led by the painful episodes.

Symptoms of cluster headaches

Aside from those mentioned above, there are also other symptoms that can be indicative of the presence of cluster headache in a person.

A person suffering from the periodic disease experience swelling in the eye area, drooping of the eyelids and runny aor stuffy nostrils. The patient also exhibit flushed face and his eye pupils are reduced in size.

Restlessness is first and foremost noticeable at the onset of the cluster attacks. Usually, patients experience difficulty in sleeping and are easily annoyed. Thus, these people tend to prefer being alone often.

As symptoms exist, you should make sure to immediately seek expert and medical consultation to be sure. The doctor could prescribe pain relief drugs or recommend techniques about how to alleviate the painful attacks.

Not much can be expected over prevention, because up until now, the real cause behind cluster headaches is still yet to be identified. Currently, researchers believe that such headaches are hereditary, or runs in the bloodline in the family.

Treatment

Cluster headaches are treatable, but not exactly curable. There are cases when a patient suddenly stops having attacks. On the contrary, there are cases when the attacks get more severe and more often.

To treat cluster headache attacks, you should take the normal dosage of pain relievers. Injections and ointments could also be of good help, as well as occasional sessions with the physical therapist.

There are non-conventional and accidental treatments that have also been proven to prevent cluster headache attacks. Among such is the botox anti-wrinkling beauty injection, which was recently discovered to help prevent the onset of headache episodes for up to six months after administration.

Cluster headaches are really painful. No one wants them. But if you happen to have one, do not worry, because it is not life-threatening, only painful. Just stick to healthy lifestyle, stay away from alcoholic drinks and cigarettes, and you would certainly help yourself avoid the disease.



By: Lee Dobbins

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