CLUSTER HEADACHES Meaning and
Definition
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Cluster headaches are a severe and recurring form of primary headache disorder characterized by intense, excruciating pain usually located on one side of the head. The term "cluster" refers to the pattern in which these headaches occur, where multiple attacks are grouped together over a period of time, followed by a remission period. They are often described as one of the most intense types of headache pain, giving rise to the nickname "suicide headache".
The duration of cluster headaches varies from person to person but typically ranges from 15 minutes to three hours, and multiple attacks can happen within a day. These headaches commonly occur at night during sleep, causing sufferers to be awakened by the intense pain. Other common characteristics of cluster headaches include a unilateral location, typically around the eye or temple, and sharp, stabbing sensations. The pain is often accompanied by other symptoms on the affected side such as redness and watering of the eye, nasal congestion or runny nose, facial sweating, or drooping eyelids.
The exact cause of cluster headaches is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve abnormal activity in the hypothalamus, a region of the brain. Triggers for cluster headaches can vary among individuals and may include smoking, alcohol consumption, certain foods, changes in sleep patterns, or high altitudes. While there is no cure for cluster headaches, treatment options aim to relieve the severity and duration of the attacks. These may include medications to reduce pain and prevention strategies such as oxygen therapy, nerve blocks, or preventive drugs to reduce the frequency and intensity of cluster periods.
Common Misspellings for CLUSTER HEADACHES
- xluster headaches
- vluster headaches
- fluster headaches
- dluster headaches
- ckuster headaches
- cpuster headaches
- couster headaches
- clyster headaches
- clhster headaches
- cljster headaches
- clister headaches
- cl8ster headaches
- cl7ster headaches
- cluater headaches
- cluzter headaches
- cluxter headaches
- cludter headaches
- clueter headaches
- cluwter headaches
- clusrer headaches
Etymology of CLUSTER HEADACHES
The word "cluster" in cluster headaches refers to the characteristic pattern of frequent attacks or headache episodes that occur over a span of time, often referred to as "clusters". These clusters typically last for weeks or months, with each headache attack lasting from 15 minutes to 3 hours.
The term "cluster headache" was first used by the American neurologist Bayard Horton in 1939. It was derived from the description of the headaches occurring in clusters or groups. The word "headache" itself comes from the Old English word "hēafodāce", which means "headache" or "pain in the head".
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