Posted by drummer (209.105.155.54) on May 07, 2000 at 14:37:38:
I asked Doc Greg for a little assistance with this Headache Table. Doc Greg threw me some big words. :-) He threw me, ptosis, lacrimation, polyuria, miosis and prodromes. :-) After I looked these big words up – I re-did the table below. Please don't take it personal – I didn't. I tried to make it as simple and as easy to understand and follow, as possible. I figure the table can help new people, with new 'headaches', that come stumbling by CH.com. Thanks Doc. :-) What thinkest you?
Feature | Cluster Headache | CPH | Migraine Headache | Tension Headache |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient gender | Usually male | Usually female | Usually female | Equally male/female |
| Age at onset | 20 to 50 years old | 20 to 50 years old | 10 to 40 years old | Any age |
| Frequency of attacks | 1 to 8/day | 15 to 20/day | 1 to 8/month | Almost daily |
| Duration of attacks | 30 min. to 4 Hrs. | 5 to 15 min. | 4 to 72 Hrs. | Gradual onset, steady |
| Intensity of pain | Excruciatingly relentless | Excruciating jabs | Moderate to severe | Constant, dull ache |
| Location of pain | Strictly unilateral | Unilateral | Unilateral or bilateral | Bilateral |
| Nasal Congestion | 70% | 70% | None | None |
| Droopy, teary eye | Common | Common | Uncommon | Uncommon |
| Incidence of associated nausea and vomiting | Rare | Rare | Common | Rare |
| Incidence of attacks awakening patient from sleep | Common | Common | Rare | Rare |
| Characteristic behavior | Patient cannot remain still during severe attack | Difficult to remain still - movement can 'trigger' attacks | Patient prefers hibernation | Patient prefers hibernation |
| Family history | 7% | unknown | 90% | Associated with stress |
| Treatment | See your doctor | Very responsive to Indomethacin | See your doctor | See your doctor |