Do you have a “cluster headache”? About your health it says:

Studies suggest that people who suffer from “cluster headaches” may be three times more likely to develop heart disease and mental disorders.

These excruciating headaches last from 15 minutes to 3 hours and usually last several days a week.

It affects an estimated 1 in 1,000 people and can be a sign of dilated or swollen blood vessels. People with this condition are more susceptible to psychiatric and neurological disorders, as well as heart disease.

There is evidence that cluster headaches are associated with abnormalities in areas of the brain that produce the ‘happiness hormone’ serotonin, the ‘sleep hormone’ melatonin, and the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol.

Of more than 3,200 Swedes with cluster headaches, 92% were predisposed to neurological and musculoskeletal conditions characterized by persistent pain and mobility problems.

The study was conducted by Swedish scientists who recruited 3,240 people with cluster headaches ranging from 16 to 64 years old.

They compared that group to 16,200 people who were similar in age, gender, and other factors. Most of the subjects were men who were prone to cluster headaches.

92% of people with cluster headaches had another illness. A majority (52%) had concurrent neurological-related conditions, compared with her 15% without cluster headache.

Cluster headaches are the second most common condition involving the musculoskeletal system, causing long-term pain and mobility problems, compared to 24% of non-headache patients.

Diseases affecting the blood, immune system, endocrine system, metabolism, and pregnancy-related conditions were very rare in both groups.

Dr. Caroline Lan, study author at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden Said: “Our results show that not only are people with cluster headaches at increased risk for other ailments, but those with at least one additional ailment are more likely than those with cluster headache alone to have 4 more illnesses or disorders. It shows that I have missed twice as many days of work.”

Here are the findings: It was published in the journal Neurology.

Fewer than 80% of those without cluster headache had two or more additional medical conditions that primarily affected the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, causing persistent pain and limited mobility. .

The headaches were severe enough to double my absence from work.

Those with cluster headache missed an average of 63 days off work, compared to 34 days for those without cluster headache.

“It is very important to develop a better understanding of the other conditions that affect people with cluster headache and how they affect their ability to work,” Dr. Lang added.

“This information helps us make decisions about treatment, prevention and prognosis.”

A notable caveat, however, was the lack of personal information about individuals such as smoking habits, alcohol use, and BMI.

The exact cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but scientists have identified smoking and alcohol consumption as potential culprits.

A family history of cluster headaches can also make symptoms worse.

Episodes usually last 5 to 15 minutes, but can last up to 180 minutes if left untreated. Attack episodes are much longer.

Attack cycles usually last 6 to 12 weeks, with remissions lasting up to a year. Many people experience one to two attacks per year.

The most effective treatments for acute attacks include oxygen therapy and sumatriptan injections.

Verapamil, an antihypertensive drug, provides long-term prevention. The injection is also approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Cluster headaches are different from migraines, which cause severe headaches, nausea, fainting, vomiting, and even paralysis.

Migraine sufferers experience an average of 13 attacks each year, usually in clusters or episodes of several days.

They are the sixth most common cause of disability worldwide.

Like cluster headaches, migraines are strongly associated with depression and absenteeism.