Do I Have A Cluster Headache?

Are you a woman between 25 and 50?

Do you have pain on one side of your head, behind or around one eye that may radiate to other areas of your face, head and neck (usually the pain stays on the same side of the face from cluster to cluster)?

Do you have a stabbing or piercing pain, which is extremely severe?

Do your headaches commonly come on just after you go to sleep?

Does your headache usually last only 10 minutes to 3 hours and then go away (resolves)?

Does the headache recur several times during the day or week?

Does your headache get worse when you lay down?

Do you have excessive tearing or redness of your eye on the affected side?

Do you have stuffy or runny nose on the affected side?

Do you have swelling around your eye on the affected side?

Do you have drooping eyelid on the affected side?

Do you have forehead or facial sweating on the affected side?

Do you have pale skin (pallor) or flushing on your face?

Do you have a family history of cluster headache?

Does your headache have seasonal character with most attacks in January and July?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have a cluster headache. Cluster headache is a distinct type of severe headache that occurs suddenly and has a particular pattern of attacks. If you have a headache or a facial pain you need to consult your doctor or your neurologist. Based on your description of the pain, the location and severity of your headaches, associated symptoms and additional tests your doctor will be able to make a diagnosis.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have a cluster headache. Cluster headache is a very specific type of head pain that typically occurs in cyclical patterns called cluster periods. Headache is very painful and if happens at night it can wake you up from sleep. The exact cause of cluster headache is unknown but it can be triggered by alcohol. There are two types of cluster headache: episodic and chronic type. The most common one is an episodic cluster headache with a long period without symptoms between attacks. Please, talk to your doctor or a neurologist about your symptoms and the best treatment option for you.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have a cluster headache. Cluster headache is a severe type of headache that appears suddenly. The pain comes on without warning and the attack can last up to three hours daily over a period of many weeks. Women have cluster headaches more than man. This type of headache is characterized by sever, disabling pain that needs to be treated with two types of care, preventative and abortive. Preventive treatment includes medication that will limit the number of your headaches and abortive treatment is designed to stop a headache once it starts.