Take Care

Cluster Headaches

What it Feels Like

Cluster headaches are described as attacks of stabbing, intense pain on one side of the head that localizes behind or around an eye. Attacks occur almost every day or several times a day for weeks or months and then may disappear for weeks, months or even years. These headaches occur mostly at night and last from 15 to twenty minutes up to 3 hours. Pain symptoms may be accompanied by eye tearing and a runny or stuffy nose on the side of the head where the pain is felt. Cluster headaches afflict more men than women.

What Causes Cluster Headaches

The Cause of Cluster headaches is unknown but they seem to be related to migraine headaches and may be triggered by excess smoking or drinking of alcohol.

Cervicogenic headaches (headaches resulting from trauma in auto, sports and other accidents) mimic the symptoms of Cluster headaches.

What to do about Cluster Headaches

Evidence suggests that chiropractic adjustments to the cervical region will relieve headache symptoms.  Headaches associated with neck problems or with trauma such as cervicogenetic headaches are best treated with chiropractic methods.  Your chiropractic doctor can determine the most likely cause of your headache and show you how to avoid future headaches of this type.  Drugs that are available to treating and Preventing Cluster headaches may have limited success and may pose problems with side effects. 

Ask the Doctor

If you have a question about your headaches and you would like a chiropractic doctor's opinion, complete the following information and press submit.

Take Care/Healthy Living/Fitness is Fun/Find a Doctor