Cluster headaches, which occur in cyclical patterns or cluster periods, are one of the most painful types of headache. A cluster headache commonly awakens you in the middle of the night with intense pain in or around one eye on one side of your head. Show
Bouts of frequent attacks, known as cluster periods, can last from weeks to months, usually followed by remission periods when the headaches stop. During remission, no headaches occur for months and sometimes even years. Fortunately, cluster headache is rare and not life-threatening. Treatments can make cluster headache attacks shorter and less severe. In addition, medications can reduce the number of cluster headaches you have. Products & Services
SymptomsCommon signs and symptomsClose Cluster headacheCluster headacheCluster headaches usually occur in cyclical patterns called cluster periods . Possible symptoms include severe pain in or around one eye or on one side of your head. There may be tearing, nasal stuffiness and a runny nostril on the affected side of the head. A cluster headache strikes quickly, usually without warning, although you might first have migraine-like nausea and aura. Common signs and symptoms during a headache include:
People with cluster headache, unlike those with migraine, are likely to pace or sit and rock back and forth. Some migraine-like symptoms — including sensitivity to light and sound — can occur with a cluster headache, though usually on one side. Cluster period characteristicsA cluster period generally lasts for several weeks to months. The starting date and the duration of each cluster period might be consistent from period to period. For example, cluster periods can occur seasonally, such as every spring or every fall. Most people have episodic cluster headaches. In episodic cluster headaches, the headaches occur for one week to a year, followed by a pain-free remission period lasting 3 months or longer before another cluster headache develops. Chronic cluster periods might continue for more than a year, or pain-free periods might last less than one month. During a cluster period:
The pain usually ends as suddenly as it began, with rapidly decreasing intensity. After attacks, most people are pain-free but exhausted. When to see a doctorSee your doctor if you've just started to have cluster headaches to rule out other disorders and to find the most effective treatment. Headache pain, even when severe, usually isn't the result of an underlying disease. But headaches can occasionally indicate a serious underlying medical condition, such as a brain tumor or rupture of a weakened blood vessel (aneurysm). Additionally, if you have a history of headaches, see your doctor if the pattern changes or your headaches suddenly feel different. Seek emergency care if you have any of these signs and symptoms:
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What causes one side headache and eye pain?A cluster headache commonly awakens you in the middle of the night with intense pain in or around one eye on one side of your head. Bouts of frequent attacks, known as cluster periods, can last from weeks to months, usually followed by remission periods when the headaches stop.
What causes headache and eye pain?When your eyes work too hard, your eye muscles may contract too much. These contractions can trigger an eye strain headache. Often, these headaches cause pain and discomfort behind your eyes. You may develop an eye strain headache after focusing on a task for too long.
When should I be concerned about a headache on my right side?If you're getting headaches only on one side of your head you shouldn't worry, but you should make an appointment with your doctor. One-sided headaches can mean different things. But they often point to a group of disorders that will need a thorough exam to provide treatment.
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