MIGRAINE AND CLUSTER HEADACHES

There are two distinct types of migraine headaches.

Classic Migraine Headache in which the headache is preceded by a spectacular “aura,” consisting of visual disturbances and distortions of senses and perceptions. Usually, these symptoms last from 10-30 minutes, sometimes up to one hour, before they fade sway and the headache begins. Only 20 percent of migraines are classic; the remainder are common migraines.

Common Migraine Headache in which the prodromal (aura) sensations are so diffuse that they often amount to no more than a vague feeling of fogginess and irritability. As these uncertain symptoms disappear, the severe throbbing pain of migraine begins.

The other type of vascular headache is the dreaded cluster. Two different types of clusters have been identified.

•Episodic or Cyclic Cluster Headache recurs in a pattern. Four of every five cluster headaches are episodic. They usually occur in bouts (hence the name cluster), after which they disappear for a year or more before returning in another bout. Breathing pure oxygen can shorten 70 percent of cluster headaches 70 percent of the time. But it is inconvenient to carry an oxygen bottle around.

• Chronic Cluster Headaches are acute attacks that recur regularly without remission for a period of one year or more. They are difficult to prevent pharmaceutically and, though they can be treated with analgesics, the attack is often over before the painkiller has begun to work.

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