The majority of cluster headache sufferers are men and only one out of every six cluster headache sufferers are women. Most cluster headache victims begin to experience this type of headache between the ages of 20 and 50 and the average age of the victims is 30 years of age. However there are cases where children under the age of 10 fall victims to cluster headaches and in some cases they start after the age of 80 and above.

Cluster headaches are more frequent among heavy smokers than in nonsmokers. However the cause remains unknown, certain foods and the consumption of alcohol appear to be related.

One characteristic of cluster headache symptoms is that it begins a few hours after a person has fallen asleep and the pain is felt on one side of the head, usually in or around one red and watery eye together with a nasal congestion and a rosy-cheeked face.

Cluster headache symptoms last from 30 minutes to 2 hours, then become less intense or disappear completely to only reappear possibly the next day. It is possible to have four or more attacks in one day. Cluster headache attacks occur in waves and they can strike every day for weeks and even months. You will then be free of this painful headache for months at a time, and suddenly, for no apparent reason, you will start to have them again.

The precise cause for cluster headaches is unknown. Pressure on nerves around the eyes caused by swollen sinus tissue may be the cause.

Some studies have found that if you are going through a cycle of cluster headaches, the consumption of alcohol will trigger a cluster headache immediately. Once you are in the remission cycle, it will be okay to resume moderate drinking.

Analgesics such as aspirin can't help you much as they do not work fast enough. However a treatment that have been effective in stopping cluster headaches as soon as they begin is the inhalation of pure oxygen. An average of approximately fifty nine percent of sufferers report a complete relief within a few minutes. Ask your doctor on how to use this treatment.

Common prescriptions to cluster headache sufferers include antihistamines, corticosteroids, lithium carbonate, ergot preparations and calcium channel blockers.  Imitrex taken through a nasal spray has shown to be very effective by eliminating pain within five minutes of its application.