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How Can Cluster Headaches Be Treated?
Hello Doctor, my name is Zoe. My dad, 64, has been diagnosed with cluster headaches. He has intense pain for up to 1 hour everyday. He said it happens on his right side. I would just like to know more about the condition. I heard they are referred to as “Suicide headaches”. If these headaches really turn a person to kill them selves, how can I prevent him from that?
Tue, 27 Feb 2018
Hello,
Cluster headache (CH), also known as histamine headache, is a primary neurovascular headache disorder, the pathophysiology, and etiology of which are not well understood. As the name suggests, cluster headache involves a grouping of headaches, usually over a period of several weeks.
These may be chronic headaches or episodic headaches. The patient experiences attacks of severe or very severe, strictly unilateral pain (orbital, supraorbital, or temporal pain) that last 15-180 minutes and occur from once every other day to eight times a day.
The attacks are associated with one or more of the following (all ipsilateral): conjunctival injection, lacrimation, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, forehead and facial sweating, miosis, ptosis, or eyelid edema.
Treated with daily exercise with oxygen-rich air. Analgesic, antidepressants, tryptamines, and antiepileptic drugs are useful. If not improved need nerve blocks, ablative procedure, and deep brain stimulation. Please consult your neuro physician he will examine and treat him accordingly.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Penchila Prasad Kandikattu
Cluster headache (CH), also known as histamine headache, is a primary neurovascular headache disorder, the pathophysiology, and etiology of which are not well understood. As the name suggests, cluster headache involves a grouping of headaches, usually over a period of several weeks.
These may be chronic headaches or episodic headaches. The patient experiences attacks of severe or very severe, strictly unilateral pain (orbital, supraorbital, or temporal pain) that last 15-180 minutes and occur from once every other day to eight times a day.
The attacks are associated with one or more of the following (all ipsilateral): conjunctival injection, lacrimation, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, forehead and facial sweating, miosis, ptosis, or eyelid edema.
Treated with daily exercise with oxygen-rich air. Analgesic, antidepressants, tryptamines, and antiepileptic drugs are useful. If not improved need nerve blocks, ablative procedure, and deep brain stimulation. Please consult your neuro physician he will examine and treat him accordingly.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Penchila Prasad Kandikattu
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