Overview
Cluster headache causes severe, one-sided pain around or behind one eye that comes in attacks, often grouped into clusters over weeks or months. Attacks are short but intensely painful and frequently happen at the same time each day, including at night. Specialist care can shorten attacks and reduce how often they occur.
Symptoms
- Excruciating pain around or behind one eye
- Pain always on the same side during a cluster
- Red or watering eye on the affected side
- Drooping or swollen eyelid
- Stuffy or runny nostril on the affected side
- Restlessness or agitation during an attack
- Attacks lasting 15 minutes to 3 hours
- Attacks recurring daily for weeks
Causes & risk factors
- Disturbance in the brain region that controls body clock and pain
- Genetic tendency in some people
- Triggers such as alcohol during a cluster period
- Smoking is associated with higher risk
- Often no underlying disease is found
Treatment & self-care
Care is guided by a neurologist and includes treatments to stop individual attacks quickly as well as approaches to prevent attacks during a cluster period. Because the pain mimics other serious conditions, a clinician will confirm the diagnosis and may arrange imaging when first diagnosed.
See a doctor urgently if
- The worst or first severe headache of your life (seek emergency care)
- Headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, or rash
- Headache after a head injury
- New neurological symptoms such as weakness or vision loss
- Headaches that are changing in pattern or worsening
This condition can be an emergency. If any of the signs above are severe or getting worse, go to the nearest emergency room now or call your local emergency number — do not wait for an online consultation.