Spotting a cluster headache
OUCH (UK) is the only charity in the UK which specialises in offering advice, help and support to cluster headache sufferers.
One of the big problems sufferers face, is first identifying their condition.The charity’s, Val Hobbs suffers with chronic cluster headache attacks and says there are specific symptoms and characteristics to watch out for.
"You have severe headaches, usually centred around the eye, accompanied by a reddening or watering of the eye on the same side." You will also have a blocked or runny nose and become very agitated.
Val says the pain is excruciating, "these attacks can last anywhere between 15 minutes to 3 hours and can occur one to 6 times a day."
The attacks typically start an hour and a half after going to sleep. With the common form of cluster headache these attacks will occur over a period of weeks or months and then disappear – often as quickly as they started.
"The less common form is the chronic and you would have these attacks for weeks, months, years, sometimes as much as 25 years without a break."
