This causes of headache article is written by Jennifer Kirkman

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Cluster headaches are very painful and come on quite suddenly. They are a more rare type of headache and are different than a migraine in that a migraine gives a warning called an aura, where cluster headaches don't.

These headache types are not hereditary. People that have these type of headaches chronically, have spells of bad head pain daily without a break, some lasting for a few minutes, and other spells that last longer for up to two hours duration.

There are also those people that have cluster headaches which are episodic, and not chronic. Episodes of these headache types will come and go monthly, or less often. The headache might even just occur a couple of times a year, and that will be it. In any case, people with the episodic type of cluster headache do not live with this problem on a day-to-day basis.

Symptoms that will commonly happen with cluster headaches are:

1. Eyelids or eyes that droop suddenly on the affected side of the head.

2. You will have nasal congestion

Cluster headaches are almost like those of a sinus headache, but are yet more painful when they attack.

Cluster headache pain commonly occurs behind the eyes, is very severe, and can last in durations of 30 minutes, or as long as two hours. These headache types typically happen about the same times every day. Another commonality of cluster headaches is that they seem to favor the early morning hours after midnight for most people. And another thing is that males are more prone to experience these cluster headaches then a female. The reasons for this have yet to be discovered.

People that are prone to cluster headache types are those that:

1. Drink alcohol heavily since alcoholic beverages seem to go straight to the head affecting the brain

2. Smoke a lot of cigarettes since nicotine often brings on bad headaches for many people

3. Medications that have an affect on the brain will most likely cause these headache types

4. People that have a number or sleeping problems are more prone to the painful experiences of a cluster headache

Doctors can diagnose these headaches mostly by your symptoms. You should keep a regular record of how frequently the headaches are occurring. This will also be an indication to your doctor of whether they come in episodes, or are chronic.

Medications that doctors will prescribe for your cluster headaches are those that will help during the period of your headaches, and the other drugs prescribed are those for use when the headache starts.

Some of the pain drugs are in suppository or inhaler form. These medications have a quicker action time to get rid of the dreadful pain.

Jennifer Kirkman is the owner of many websites, four health related ones are these: 

http://www.diabetesandrelatedhealthissues.com, and also http://www.knowyourhealthmatters.com

She resides in Florida where she was born and raised. She is a former piano teacher of 25 years before moving on to website building pursuits.

She enjoys reading, writing articles, and counted cross-stitch along with church activities and her cat.