Cluster headaches can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'troubling' to 'life-threatening'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose cluster headaches, we could:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Low DHEA | 95% | Confirm |
Drug Side-Effects | 28% | Unlikely |
Low Melatonin | 19% | Unlikely |
Low Pregnenolone | 1% | Ruled out |
Low Testosterone | 0% | Ruled out |
Cigarette Smoke Damage | 0% | Ruled out |
Low Female Testosterone | 0% | Ruled out |
Alcohol Consequences | 0% | Ruled out |
Do you get Cluster Headaches? Attacks last 15 minutes to 3 hours; severe pain starts around one eye and may radiate into the temple, jaw, nose, teeth, or chin. 'Clusters' of up to several per day occur for 1-16 weeks, then not for months or years.
Possible responses:
→ Never had one / don't know→ Probably had one/minor episode(s) now resolved → Major episode(s) now resolved → Current minor problem → Current major problem |
It is believed that there may be a link between cluster headaches and some medications such as nitroglycerin (used to treat heart disease.)
Many sufferers report that alcohol is an important trigger during a cluster period, but not during remission periods.
The majority of male sufferers are smokers.
Those suffering from cluster headaches often have DHEA sulfate levels that are below normal.
Several studies have found that sufferers of cluster and migraine headaches tend to have subnormal levels of total testosterone, DHEA sulfate, and pregnenolone.
Several studies have found that sufferers of cluster and migraine headaches tend to have subnormal levels of total testosterone, DHEA sulfate, and pregnenolone.
Low levels of melatonin have been linked to cluster headaches, and melatonin supplements reduce cluster headaches in some patients.
Those suffering from cluster headaches often have pregnenolone levels that are below normal.