NEWSLETTER February 2020
INSIDE: Healthy Recipe
Recognizing the Causes of a Cluster Headache – and How to Treat It
Anytypeofpainthatoccurswithinthehead can be referred to as a “headache.” Most headacheswillresolveontheirownwithout medical intervention; however, severe or recurrent headaches that interfere with one’s quality of life should most certainly be evaluated further. The challenge lies in identifying which type of headache you’re experiencingandthendevisingatreatment plan accordingly. Cluster headaches are a specific type of chronicheadache.AlsoknownasHorton’s syndrome, cluster headaches are short- livedbutpainfulheadachesthatoccurevery day for weeks or even months at a time. They occur in patterns or “clusters,” and they may even happen at the same time everyyear,suchas inthespringorfall.Most cluster attacks occur at night; however, it is possible for them to occur at any point during the day, sometimes multiple times throughout theday.Thepainyou feel from cluster headaches is defined as chronic, due to the nature of the ongoing clusters. Ifyouaresufferingfromchronicheadaches, it is important to realize that you are not alone. Infact,accordingtothe International HeadacheSociety,headachesare the third most common pain complaint across the world. If you’ve been living with nagging
headaches that seem to come and go at different times, you may be experiencing cluster headaches. Contact Advantage Physical Therapy today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced physical therapists and figure out exactly what type of headache is plaguing you. What causes a cluster headache? While some headaches have specific triggers, such as hormonal changes, stress, or tension,clusterheadachestypicallydonot. Whiletheexactcauseofclusterheadaches is unknown, many medical professionals believe that they are associated with the hypothalamus.Some factors thatmayput you at a higher risk for developing cluster headaches include: • Age. Most people who develop cluster headaches are between 20-50 years old. • Sex. Males are more likely to develop cluster headaches than females. • Smoking. A large number of people who experienceclusterheadachesaresmokers. • Alcohol. Alcohol use can aggravate or even trigger a cluster attack. • Family history. Those who have family memberswithclusterheadachesaremore likely to develop them themselves.
Don’t Let Pain Sideline You
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