Cluster Headaches and Treatments

Almost all of us will suffer from a headache or headaches in our lifetime, that can't be linked back to some other medical condition. These headaches are known as primary headaches and they include tension headaches, migraine headaches and cluster headaches.

I've received so many emails from clients, letting me know how my all natural Migraine and Headache Relief program has help them relieve their tension and/or migraine headaches - all without relying on medicine. Recently, however, I've received a lot of emails from individuals experiencing cluster headaches and wondering if my program can help. In order to answer that, let me first explain the different types of primary headaches, causes, symptoms and treatments available.

A tension headache is described as pain in the head, neck and/or scalp. It can feel like a band squeezing the affected area. Over 80% of headache sufferers fall into this category. Women are generally twice as likely suffer from tension headaches the men. For most, the pain is not unbearable and most can go through their daily routines without interruption.

Triggers for tension headache include: Lack of sleep, stress, depression, anxiety and bad posture. They last 30 minutes to a few hours but can go on for a week. They can be episodic headaches (lasting less than 15 days per month) or chronic (lasting over 15 days per month). Most who suffer from this type of headache will not require medicine. Relief from this type of headache is most often achieved through relaxation exercises which include deep breathing exercises.

Migraine headaches, however, are considered vascular. This is an abnormal sensitivity of the arteries and the blood flow into the brain which causes pain in the affected areas. This type of headache is the second most common of the primary headaches.

This type of headache is caused by an improper flow of blood to the arteries, causing them to rapidly constrict and dilate. This causes a moderate to sever throbbing sensation (including pain) generally on one side of the head but it can spread to both sides.

Women also tend to suffer from migraines more than men - 3 times as much. While some only experience mild throbbing and pain, the vast majority suffer intense pain lasting anywhere from 4-72 hours and sometimes lasting for several weeks. Symptoms include: Vomiting, nausea, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, sensitivity to smells and sometimes an "aura" or other visual impairment.

Common triggers for migraine include: some foods (wine, cheese, processed meats, chocolate), smells or fumes, loud noises, stress, MSG, aspartame, and changes in the weather. Certain headache medications can trigger migraine headaches as well.

Natural treatments include deep breathing and/or relaxation exercises or oxygen therapy.

Cluster headache - this is the least common headache but is BY FAR the most painful. It is even labeled the "suicide" headache because most traditional therapies don't work and for some death is preferable.

Cluster headaches get their name because the headaches tend to occur in clusters. They will happen several times per day, lasting for the same amount of time and occurring at the same time per day. They tend to linger for several weeks, will dissipate and then recur with the same frequency and intensity.

Cluster headaches are much more severe than migraine or tension headaches and often strike without warning on one side of the brain only (unilateral), with pain behind the eye of the affected region. The pain tends to last an hour or less but the headaches strike several times per day.

The cause of cluster headaches is unknown but what is known is that the blood flows abnormally in the affected area, causing the blood vessels to dilate and this in turn puts pressure on the trigeminal nerve. Sufferers of this type of headache generally find more relief from staying active, rather than motionless like with migraine or tension headaches.

Men are five times as likely as women to suffer from cluster headaches. Other symptoms include: drooping eyelid, watery eyes and blocked nasal passages. In fact, many doctors misdiagnose cluster headaches as sinus headaches. Triggers include: Smoking, alcohol, stress, lack of sleep, some foods, sleep apnea and excessive snoring. Like migraine headaches, cluster headaches can be episodic or chronic.

Cluster headaches tend to have a seasonal rhythm which means sufferers tend to get them during the spring or fall. The headaches will happen at the same time each day, several times per day. Many of the attacks start during REM sleep, so sufferers will try to avoid sleep and the ensuing headache. For those who suffer cluster headaches as a result of sleep apnea or excessive snoring, studies have shown that symptoms of the headache reside once snoring and apnea are treated.

A proper diagnosis will involve both a medical history, since some cluster headaches are partly genetic and a physical examination. Sometimes a CT or MRI will be ordered to rule out another medical condition. Drugs for the pain are usually not effective for the prevention of the headache. The drugs that are prescribed for prevention tend to include a number of side effects. Oxygen therapy is the most effective therapy once the headache has started.

My completely natural Migraine and Headache Relief Program incorporates additional oxygen promoting blood flow to the areas of the brain that require it. And if snoring may be your trigger, my all natural Stop Snoring Program has achieved amazing results.

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Christian Goodman has dedicated his career to health research and found solutions to many serious conditions. You can learn more about him on his natural health alternatives blog where you can read about his solutions for several conditions such as hypertension, snoring, and his amazing natural migraine and headache program