What can a neurologist do for cluster headaches?

The treatment of cluster headaches is usually coordinated by a neurologist. Standard painkillers do not work, and even if they do they usually take so long to work that the headache may have gone before the pain-relief takes effect. Sumatriptan is the most widely used medication to stop a cluster headache.

Why would a doctor order an MRI for headaches?

An MRI may also be ordered if there is a change in your headaches or anything unusual about them, if there are additional symptoms happening with your headaches, or if there is concern there might be a structural problem causing your headaches.

Should you see a neurologist for cluster headaches?

To diagnose a cluster headache, a healthcare provider will need to thoroughly check you. A specialist called a neurologist or a headache specialist will rule out other problems that can cause headaches. You’ll likely need to have imaging done, such as an MRI or CT scan.

Are cluster headaches a neurological condition?

Cluster headache is a neurological disorder that presents with unilateral severe headache associated with ipsilateral cranial autonomic symptoms. Cluster headache attacks often occur more than once a day, and typically manifesting in bouts.

Can cluster headaches cause brain damage?

Relative to other types of primary headaches, cluster headaches are rare. Identifying headache triggers may help prevent their occurrence. A true cluster headache is not life threatening and does not cause permanent brain damage. But, they tend to be chronic, recurrent, and can interfere with your lifestyle or work.

How do you stop a cluster headache?

There is no cure for cluster headaches. You can’t do anything to prevent a cycle of cluster headaches from starting. But as soon as a cycle starts, you can take medicine that may help prevent more headaches or reduce how many you have during a cycle. You take this medicine every day during the cycle.

What foods trigger cluster headaches?

Processed lunch meats. Foods with nitrites and preservatives like sausages, hot dogs, and bacon. MSG (monosodium glutamate) a flavor enhancer used in soy sauce, meat tenderizer and other foods. Foods containing the amino acid tyramine, including citrus, bananas, nuts and beans.

Is cluster headache an autoimmune disease?

The symptoms of giant cell arteritis may include stiffness, muscle pain, fever, and/or headaches. The exact cause of this disease is not fully understood, although it is thought to be an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s own immune system attacks healthy tissue.

What nerve is affected by cluster headaches?

The nerve that’s affected, the trigeminal nerve, is responsible for sensations such as heat or pain in your face. It’s near your eye, and it branches up to your forehead, across your cheek, down your jaw, and above your ear on the same side. A brain condition, such as a tumor or aneurysm, won’t cause these headaches.

What to do if you have cluster headaches?

In patients investigated for secondary cluster headache-like presentations, we recommend an MRI scan of the brain with gadolinium and pituitary function screening, specifically thyroid function tests, plasma prolactin and growth hormone/IGF1.

Can a headache be diagnosed with an imaging exam?

Headaches are a common complaint among patients, with many caused by tension or chronic migraines. Many headaches can be clinically diagnosed through imaging. Details on the most appropriate imaging exam to order based on suspected diagnosis or symptom, as well as red flags that necessitate ordering imaging, are below.

Which is more common cluster headache or migraine?

Patients with both migraine and cluster headache are more likely to present with interictal dull pain, especially if using frequent sumatriptan dosing orally to treat attacks, 11 which can be mistaken for hemicrania continua. Cluster headache is more common in men, with a ratio of 2.5–3.5:1.

Do you need an MRI for a migraine?

In people who meet the criteria of migraine, have no abnormal findings on examination, and who have not had a significant change in the headache pattern DO NOT need to have an imaging study. This was first stated in 1994 as part of an imaging guideline by the American Academy of Neurology, and has been adopted as an evidence based guideline.