Cluster headaches are diagnosed in 18% of women and only 9% of men, according to researchers
A recent study published in Neurology found that women are more likely to suffer excruciating cluster headaches than men.
It is believed that the brief but intense pain attacks that people normally have on one side of the brain are worse in women, even though they are more common in men. There may be several in a row for days, weeks, or even months at a time, each lasting between 15 minutes and three hours.
Swedish researchers found that women more likely to diagnosed with chronic cluster headaches, which can last more than a year without relief. Furthermore, 18% of women diagnosed with chronic cluster headache, compared to only 9% of men.
The duration of female attacks was longer than that of male attacks. As an example, 8% of women reported lasting four to seven months between their headache episodes compared to 5% of men. In contrast, 26% of female patients said that the aches subsided after a month, as opposed to 30% of male patients.
74% of female cluster headache patients
The number of attacks occurring at different times of the day was significantly higher among women than among men. 74% of female cluster headache patients said they had headaches at different times, compared to 63% of men.
Women were more likely to have a family history of cluster headaches than men, with 15% reporting a history. The study involved 874 people with the condition who answered questionnaires about their symptoms, medications, headache triggers, and lifestyle habits.
A majority of the sample (66%) consisted of men, while a third (34%) consisted of women.
“Cluster headaches often misdiagnosed in women, possibly because some aspects can resemble migraine,” said study author Andrea Belin, PhD, of the Karolinska Institutet.
Physicians should understand how the disorder manifests differently in men and women in order to provide the most effective treatment as soon as possible.
In spite of the fact that the ratio of men to women with cluster headache has shifted over time, the disorder is still mainly considered a disorder of men, making it more difficult for women with milder symptoms to be diagnosed with cluster headache than men,” Belin concluded. In women, chronic cluster headache may be more common.
Treatment of chronic cluster headaches in women
Treatment for cluster headaches in women typically involves medications to relieve the pain and prevent future attacks. These may include abortive medications to stop an attack once it has started, and preventive medications to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. In some cases, alternative therapies such as acupuncture or biofeedback may also be helpful.
It is important for women with cluster headaches to seek medical treatment to manage their symptoms and prevent future attacks. If you are experiencing cluster headache symptoms, it is important to speak with a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment
Symptoms of cluster headaches in women
Symptoms of cluster headaches in women include intense pain on one side of the head, often concentrated around the eye or temple. The pain may be accompanied by other symptoms such as tearing of the eye, stuffy or runny nose, and swelling of the face on the affected side. Cluster headache typically come on suddenly and can last for 15 minutes to 3 hours.
The exact cause of cluster headaches not fully understood. But they thought to be related to changes in brain activity and blood flow. Cluster headache triggered by a variety of factors, including alcohol, certain foods, and changes in sleep patterns.
