CLUSTER HEADACHE

❓ What Are Cluster Headaches?

Cluster headaches are very painful headaches that happen in groups or "clusters." They often affect one side of the head, usually around or behind one eye. The pain can come on suddenly and is usually very strong.

Cluster headaches may happen several times a day, often around the same time every day, and they can last weeks or months. After the cluster ends, the headaches may go away for months or even years before coming back.

🧪 What Causes Cluster Headaches?

Doctors are not exactly sure what causes cluster headaches. But they believe they may be linked to changes in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. This part helps control your body clock (your sleep-wake schedule).

Triggers that may cause cluster headaches include:

• Smoking
  
  

• Drinking alcohol
  
  

• Strong smells
  
  

• Bright or flashing lights
  
  

• Changes in sleep
  
  

• High stress
  
  

⚠️ Symptoms of Cluster Headaches

• Sharp, stabbing pain on one side of the head
  
  

• Pain around or behind one eye
  
  

• Red or watery eye
  
  

• Stuffy or runny nose
  
  

• Droopy eyelid
  
  

• Small pupil in one eye
  
  

• Sweating on the face
  
  

• Feeling very restless or unable to sit still
  
  

Each headache may last 15 minutes to 3 hours, and can happen up to 8 times a day during a cluster period.

💊 Treatment and Pain Relief

Cluster headaches cannot be cured, but treatments can help reduce the pain and how often they happen.

Fast-acting treatments:

• Oxygen therapy – breathing pure oxygen through a mask
  
  

• Triptan medications – such as sumatriptan
  
  

Prevention medications:

• Verapamil (a blood pressure medicine)
  
  

• Steroids (like prednisone)
  
  

• Lithium (used in some long-term cases)
  
  

In some cases, a doctor might give nerve blocks or suggest special treatments like surgery.

🥗 Diet and Lifestyle Tips

There’s no special diet for cluster headaches, but these tips may help:

• Avoid alcohol during a cluster period
  
  

• Quit smoking
  
  

• Keep a headache diary to track triggers
  
  

• Try to get regular sleep
  
  

• Avoid strong smells, bright lights, and loud noises
  
  

☎️ When to Call Your Home Health Nurse

Call your home health nurse if:

• You have new or worse headache symptoms
  
  

• You feel sad, anxious, or hopeless from the pain
  
  

• Your medications are causing side effects
  
  

• Your headaches return after a long break
  
  

🏥 When to Go to the Emergency Room (ER)

Go to the ER if:

• You have the worst headache of your life
  
  

• You faint, have a seizure, or feel confused
  
  

• You have trouble speaking or moving
  
  

• You have a fever or stiff neck with the headache
  
  

© 2025 Judith Regan / K.N.O.W. – Knowledge for Nurturing Optimal Well-Being. All rights reserved. | Educational use only | Not a substitute for medical advice | In emergencies call 911

📘 Patient Homework / Assessment

Instructions: Read each statement. Write True or False in front of the number. If it’s False, correct the statement.

1. True or False: Cluster headaches usually affect both sides of the head.
   
   

2. True or False: Cluster headaches come in groups and can happen several times a day.
   
   

3. True or False: One of the causes of cluster headaches is drinking alcohol.
   
   

4. True or False: Each cluster headache can last up to 3 hours.
   
   

5. True or False: Cluster headaches only happen to people over age 60.
   
   

6. True or False: Watery eyes and runny noses are common symptoms.
   
   

7. True or False: Cluster headaches are caused by poor diet.
   
   

8. True or False: Triptan medications can help relieve a cluster headache.
   
   

9. True or False: Oxygen therapy is a treatment used for cluster headaches.
   
   

10. True or False: A drooping eyelid may be a symptom of a cluster headache.
    
    

11. True or False: Cluster headaches can come back at the same time every day.
    
    

12. True or False: Bright lights and strong smells can trigger a cluster headache.
    
    

13. True or False: There is no cure for cluster headaches, but treatment can help.
    
    

14. True or False: You should drink alcohol to help relieve the pain.
    
    

15. True or False: Smoking may trigger cluster headaches.
    
    

16. True or False: A headache diary can help find your triggers.
    
    

17. True or False: You should go to the ER if you faint during a headache.
    
    

18. True or False: Verapamil is a medicine used to help prevent cluster headaches.
    
    

19. True or False: Cluster headaches only happen once or twice in a person’s life.
    
    

20. True or False: It is important to talk to your nurse if your medicine causes side effects.

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

Symptom Identification:
“Do you have sudden, severe headaches on one side of your head, often around the eye, with tearing or a runny nose?”

Activity Impact / Safety:
“Do these headaches make it hard or unsafe for you to do daily activities, like driving, working, or walking?”

Treatment Adherence:
“Are you using your prescribed medications or treatments, like oxygen therapy or triptans, the way your doctor told you?”

Preventive Measures:
“Are you avoiding triggers, such as alcohol or smoking, keeping a regular sleep schedule, and tracking your headache patterns to help prevent attacks?”

© 2025 Judith Regan / K.N.O.W. – Knowledge for Nurturing Optimal Well-Being. All rights reserved. | Educational use only | Not a substitute for medical advice | In emergencies call 911

✅ Answer Key

Instructions for Patient:
Mark each statement True or False. If False, correct the statement using what you learned.

1. False – Cluster headaches usually affect one side of the head, often behind one eye.
   
   

2. True – They come in groups or clusters, often multiple times a day.
   
   

3. True – Alcohol can trigger cluster headaches, especially during a cluster period.
   
   

4. True – Each headache may last from 15 minutes to 3 hours.
   
   

5. False – Cluster headaches can start between ages 20 and 50, not just in elderly people.
   
   

6. True – A watery eye and runny nose on the same side as the pain are common.
   
   

7. False – They are not caused by diet, though some foods may act as triggers.
   
   

8. True – Triptan medications like sumatriptan can relieve headache pain.
   
   

9. True – Oxygen therapy is a fast-acting treatment for cluster headaches.
   
   

10. True – A drooping eyelid can occur during a cluster headache attack.
    
    

11. True – They often come at the same time each day, even during sleep.
    
    

12. True – Bright lights and strong smells can be triggers.
    
    

13. True – There is no cure, but treatments help control symptoms and frequency.
    
    

14. False – You should not drink alcohol, especially during cluster periods—it can make headaches worse.
    
    

15. True – Smoking is a known trigger for some people with cluster headaches.
    
    

16. True – A headache diary can help track triggers and pattern of headaches.
    
    

17. True – Fainting, seizures, or other serious symptoms during a headache need emergency care.
    
    

18. True – Verapamil is used as a preventive medicine to reduce how often headaches happen.
    
    

19. False – They can come back many times in a person’s life, often in cycles.
    
    

20. True – Tell your nurse or doctor if your medicine is causing problems.