Cluster Headaches

This video contains an explanation of cluster headaches, aimed at helping medical students and healthcare professionals prepare for exams.

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DISCLAIMER: This video is for education and entertainment only, and is not medical advice. This video should NOT be used for medical advice or to guide clinical practice. The Zero to Finals content should not be used in any way to guide medical decision making. Zero to Finals takes no responsibility for any actions taken or not taken based on the information provided. Local and national guidelines and senior clinicians are there to help you make decisions, not YouTube videos. If you need medical advice or information, seek it from an appropriately trained and licenced doctor or healthcare provider that can address your individual needs. Zero to Finals cannot guarantee the accuracy of information in this video. Please highlight any errors you notice in the comments below - thank you.

[ClusterHeadSurvivor]

15 year chronic survivor now in complete remission. Had 4 brain surgeries that made me worse. Then I’m the first human in recorded history to have stem cell for clusters. It worked. Been in remission plus many other health problems from stem cell. Pain free wishes everyone.

[keithmckay]

I'm 42 and had clusters since 19.
It's my kids that keep me alive

[keithmckay]

Cluster headaches are unilateral
Mine are on the right side.
My eyeball, my temple, top of my head(right side obviously).
My eye droops and tears. My right nostril starts to run.
Its hell on earth

[biscoitinho]

I managed to combat my cluster headache by drinking 3l of water a day, regular hard exercises (not just a small walk), make sure to have enough sleep, and avoid drinking "heavy" drinks e.g. red wine, whiskey. I hope this helps someone

[wonbin]

Mine started in 2015, my neuro treated it with prednisolone for 3 weeks. It stopped for a few yrs and it is haunting me again. Having a suicide headache while scrolling to yt videos about CHs at the moment. It always wakes me up in my deep sleep at midnight. It is a headache from hell, indeed!

[magge]

I had my first CH 3 months ago, at the age of 22. I didn’t know anything about CH at the time, nor had I heard about it. I have had 4 CH episodes since then, never felt so much pain before. Warm thoughts to those of you who have lived with CH for years

[thaumazein]

just listening to this is making me feel bad.. and I think I've never experienced (hopefully) cluster headaches but do have some familiarity with migraines that come mysteriously. I cannot even imagine and wishing everyone who deals with these strength and hope

[davidwillacy]

7 in 24 hours is my record. I used to get normal migraines as a young man, but for some reason they changed to be the cluster type of headache. I was given oxygen at the London migraine clinic but that didn’t help either. Eventually at about the age of 55 I grew out of them and haven’t had a single one in 16 years. HEAVEN!!! Bye the way loud noises, hot rooms or any sort of alcohol (especially red wine) were a absolute no no if I wanted to stay relatively safe. Thanks

[amandalovestrey]

I’ve had episodic cluster headaches for 27 years. They always occur at the same time each day during a cycle. I am awoken at 4:00 a.m. with the pain. They usually occur more frequently throughout the day as the cycle progresses. Why is no one talking about the precision in time for the attack to occur? I have also noticed that when periods of remission end for me it is commonly after the time change (fall back or spring forward).

[PahEz]

It is called the " suicide headache " because so many people have literally killed themselves because the pain was too much and they were scared of experiencing another cluster headache.

[AzrealBlack]

I hope this post helps someone. These are methods I find effective in helping cope if not alleviating the pain. I’m 46 and had my first at 15. 15 minutes to 8 hrs straight. My best go to is heat. Boiling water and breathing in the steam sometimes works almost instantly, and usually at least makes it more bearable. Be sure to drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration. I also use ice cubes in my mouth or placed in a ziplock bag placed directly on trouble spots i.e. top of the head; on eye or jaw; back of neck; moving to points that hurt the most. Marching in place preferably in the dark and focusing on rotating my shoulders as the pain can radiate down my neck and into my shoulders and chest. Massaging gums and conversely keeping mouth completely shut with teeth closed can help as well. Lastly, removing all sweets from my diet including sugar free foods and zero calorie drinks like crystal light and even fruit really help. I always cycle through these routines until relief comes as I feel to suffer in silence only makes it worse. They last everyday at the same time for months or days and disappear for years or weeks. I don’t really drink have never smoked and stay pretty calm. Again I hope this helps someone as no one should have to suffer like this.

[lestki]

May I suggest you add that they usually occur at the same time of day. Mine were always around 3am and if you talk to other sufferers you'll find similar patterns.

[dailydoseofmedicinee]

The exact cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but cluster headache patterns suggest that abnormalities in the body's biological clock (hypothalamus) play a role. Unlike migraine and tension headache, cluster headache generally isn't associated with triggers, such as foods, hormonal changes or stress.

[robjack]

Never had these in my entire life. Im 23, healthy dude that doesn’t drink or smoke, go to the gym and so cardio and weights. I got the flu a couple weeks ago but these headaches linger now. I wanted to blow my brains out when these happen

[MSMUPOM]

At the age of seventeen I fell backwards onto a fire, which left a second-degree burn about the size of an outstretched hand (about eight inches in diameter) on the back of my leg; not a life-threatening injury, but certainly large enough to be called serious. Most of us will have had minor burns at some time in our lives, so it doesn't take a great deal of imagination to realise - or at least appreciate - what it felt like. After that experience I thought I knew what real pain was. On June 7th, 1987 I had my first cluster attack, and found out that I didn't. A cluster attack is the nearest thing to hell on earth.

[zepho]

I’ve had clusters since I was 13 years old. I’m 32 years old as of this post.

They’re yearly, seasonally. The pain is behind the left eye, back left of the head, the top row of my teeth.

As of my last cluster headache remission, it was 12 weeks. The headaches last around 2-3 hours at their worst, 1.5 hours on average. I’ve had 6 of them which have been so intense where I’ve almost past out in pain, vomited etc. They’re quite horrid.

The medicine which I find to work are the preventatives mentioned in this piece, such as the verapamil. Nimodipidine and Topiramate have been fantastic in reducing the frequency of attacks and the pain, but have horrible side effects. These were not mentioned in this video but have been very effective.

Abortive meds are Zolmitriptan intranasal and oxygen. The standard. I’ve heard there’s alternative FDA approved meds but I haven’t tried those. I hope this helps.

[HVN-Unplugged]

I suffered this during 3 months of summer every day for a few years between 2010 to 2015. Every morning 1 hour used to be hell. Had consulted neurologists, brain MRI and what not. Then it stopped suddenly and life was great again!
Since last week it has reappeared with changed time. During the night somewhere between around 1 AM to 4:00 AM - wake up with terrible pain. It takes around 20-45 minutes to subside.
Let's see how many days it goes on. am hopeful :)

[chavatorres]

Had mine for 10 years now, started at 17 and I’ll be turning 28 soon. Just want them to go away! Literally the only pain that brings me to tears

[ashwinkhevariya]

I have these headaches since I was 19. Now I am 29 still have these after cycle of 8 months to 1 year and lasts for around 1 month. When I have attacks I try following which really helps. It doesn't stop pain but allows to fight the pain.
1. Ice : I found this most helping. Gradually rub Ice in forehead, back of nec k and other places where it hurts the most
2. Long breathing and walking: when I have attacks it makes me restless but keeping head cool and walk in room with long breaths affect.
3. Dart tablets: they don't stop the pain but if you have one when you recieve the message in brain that it's about to happen, they really makes you strong enough to fight.
4. Last but not least, endure the pain. Its very difficult but keeping patience really helps. Just try to meditate and think that it would be over soon. Usually the severe pain last for 1 hr in my case so I do above and tolerate pain for 1 hour.

[danieldevito]

I've heard stories of people committing suicide over cluster headaches. This is one ailment that I'm glad I've never had to experience and I truly feel sorry for anyone who does go through this.