What Are Cluster Headaches?
Cluster headaches are a severe type of headache that comes with intense pain on one side of the head. This pain is usually concentrated around the eye and lasts a few minutes to several hours. Several effective cluster headache treatments are available to help you manage your pain and prevent future attacks.
Dr. Mark Cohen, a neurologist and Dr. Dmitriy Dvoskin cluster headache specialist with Neuro Injury Specialists in New York and New Jersey, can provide you with personalized care and long-term solutions for the headaches. He works with you to find a long-term treatment for cluster headaches with an accurate diagnosis in their state-of-the-art facility.
In addition to cluster headaches treatment, doctors at Neuro Injury Specialists treat a wide range of neurological conditions, such as:

How Can I Differentiate Cluster Headaches from Other Types of Headaches?
Cluster headaches cause pain that’s stabbing, sharp or burning rather than throbbing that’s more common with other types of headaches. The pain of a cluster headache can last from 15 minutes to three hours and usually occurs several times a day for weeks or months.
It’s difficult to tell them apart from other headaches, especially migraines, which is why it’s so vital that you seek help from a cluster headache specialist.
Cluster headaches are different from other types of headaches in several ways, including the fact that they:
- Are more common in men than women, and usually start between the ages of 20 and 40, while conditions such as chronic migraines are more common among women
- Aren’t caused by another underlying condition like high blood pressure or neck pain, but by abnormal activity in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that regulates biological rhythms and sleep-wake cycles
- Often are accompanied by other symptoms, such as redness, tearing or swelling of the eye, nasal congestion, facial flushing or drooping of the eyelid
- Tend to occur at consistent times of day, often at night and are often seasonal, but not related to allergy headaches
- Have periods of remission without attacks that can last from months to years; in fact, some people have chronic cluster headaches that don’t have remission periods though
What Are the Common Symptoms of Cluster Headaches?
A cluster headache brings severe pain usually around or behind one eye. The pain is intense, and the duration can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
People with a severe case may have several cluster headaches in the same day.
Some of the common symptoms on the same side of the head that accompany the pain include:
- Redness, tearing or swelling of the eye
- Nasal congestion or runny nose
- Facial flushing or sweating
- Drooping eyelid or pupil constriction
- Restlessness or agitation during the attack
What Are Effective Cluster Headache Treatments?
Cluster headaches require fast-acting treatments to stop the attacks. There’s no cure for cluster headaches, but some treatments can prevent them or reduce their frequency and severity.
The conventional cluster headaches treatments include:
- These are pharmacological treatments that narrow the blood vessels in the brain and block pain signals. They can be given as a shot or a nasal spray when the symptoms start. Sumatriptan (Imitrex) and zolmitriptan (Zomig) are the most commonly used triptans for cluster headaches.
- This treatment for cluster headache is a synthetic version of a brain hormone that reduces the pain of cluster headaches. It’s given as a shot under the skin. It may be used for people who can’t take triptans or oxygen therapy.
- Local anesthetic. This medicine acts as a nerve block and stops pain signals. It can be given through the nose as a spray or drops. Lidocaine is the most used local anesthetic for cluster headaches treatment.
- This treatment for cluster headaches constricts the blood vessels in the brain and reduces inflammation. It’s given intravenously or as a nasal spray. It may be used for people who don’t respond to other treatments.
- Oxygen therapy. Breathing pure oxygen through a mask can provide relief within 15 minutes for most people. Oxygen therapy is safe and has no side effects, but it requires a prescription and a portable oxygen tank.
Why Should I Work with Dr. Cohen for My Cluster Headaches Treatment?
If you’re looking for comprehensive cluster headache treatments, consider a consultation with Dr. Cohen, a cluster headache specialist at Neuro Injury Specialists. This is a medical practice that specializes in treating neurological disorders and injuries.
Neuro Injury Specialists has offices in New York City and New Jersey, and offers the cluster headache treatments that include:
- Expert diagnoses and evaluation by board-certified neurologists with extensive experience in headache disorders including tension headaches, sinus headaches and chronic headaches.
- Access to advanced imaging and testing facilities, such as MRI and CT scans, to rule out other causes of headaches and to closely monitor your condition.
- Individualized treatment plans that include both conventional and alternative options, such as oxygen therapy, acupuncture and cognitive behavior therapy.
- Education and counseling on how to manage your cluster headaches, avoid headache triggers, cope with stress and improve your quality of life.
- Referrals to other specialists or services if needed, such as neurosurgery, psychology or physical therapy.
There is no cure for cluster headaches, but there are treatments to reduce the attacks and offer pain relief. That’s why you need comprehensive and personalized care from a cluster headache specialist. If you’re suffering from cluster headaches and looking for a long-term solution, contact Neuro Injury Specialists today and schedule an appointment with Dr. Dvoskin and Dr. Cohen.