Cluster Headaches

Symptoms

Symptoms for cluster headaches may include:

• Intense burning or penetrating pain, often described as a stabbing or hot-poker sensation, in or around one eye or temple, occasionally radiating to the forehead, nose, cheek, or upper gum and jaw
• Bloodshot or teary eye
• Blocked or runny nostril
• Contracted pupil
• Drooping or swollen eyelid
• Flushed face
• Excessive sweating

Cluster headaches often occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, waking the patient. But they may occur at any time and often recur at the same time of day.

Cluster headaches can occur daily for weeks or months before remission. Remission may last weeks or years. Cluster headaches can also occur without remission and are called chronic cluster headaches. Some chronic cluster headache patients start with chronic headaches, and some start with episodic cluster headaches and convert to chronic cluster headaches.