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Risk Factors
Certain factors may increase your risk for cluster headaches, such as gender. Men are more likely to experience cluster headaches than women, affecting six men for each woman.
Your age can also be a risk divisor. Cluster headaches are more common in individuals ages 20 to 50-years old. That said, the conditions can develop at any age, notes the Mayo Clinic. They are also more common in individuals who smoke. Finally, a family history (such as a parent or sibling who has cluster headaches) may also increase your risk.
When to See a Doctor
Although painful, headaches aren’t usually serious. That said, in some cases, “headaches can occasionally indicate a serious underlying medical condition, such as a brain tumor or rupture of a weakened blood vessel,” says the Mayo Clinic.
With this in mind if you’d just started having cluster headaches make sure you talk to your doctor to ensure they’re not the result of something serious. Your doctor can also help you find the most effective treatment.
When to Seek Emergency Care
Certain signs could be a sign that you need to seek emergency care right away, such as an abrupt severe headache or a headache that is accompanied by a fever, nausea, or vomiting. If you’re experiencing a stiff neck, mental confusion, numbness, difficulty speaking, or seizures you should also seek emergency help right away as these signs could indicate a stroke, brain tumor, meningitis, or encephalitis.
Finally, you should also seek emergency help if the headache appears after a head injury, or if the headache worsens over days and changes pattern.
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