Migraines are often thought of as a family trait – you know that Aunt Sally, Mom, and Grandma all have them and you’re just waiting for the big one. But among frequently-occurring, severe headaches, migraines are only one variety. Cluster headaches, for example, have also been shown to have a genetic component and may be passed down through generations.
Understanding cluster headaches and the potential genetic links involved is important for many families. Cluster headaches – which are also called suicide headaches – can be a devastating and debilitating source of pain, typically felt on one side of the head only. The pain from a cluster headache can be so intense that it’s been reported as “worse than childbirth” or “like being repeatedly stabbed in the eye.
If cluster headaches do have an underlying genetic cause, that information may be empowering to patients and their families. It may help parents with children diagnosed with cluster headaches feel more supported and understand their own role in the development of some forms of headache disorder.
<br
What are Cluster Headaches and How Can They Relate to Genetics?
Cluster headaches are often considered to be one of the most severe forms of headache. They are characterized by excruciatingly painful attacks that occur in cycles, or clusters, of extreme, stabbing pain in the eye or temple area. A cluster headache “cluster” can range from weeks to months at a time. Men have been reported to experience cluster headaches more frequently than women.
Some research has suggested that having a family history of cluster headaches could increase a person’s risk of developing the disorder themselves. In one study, about 20 percent of patients with cluster headaches had a family member with a history of similar types of head pain, compared to about 10 percent in the general population.
Additionally, studies of migraines, bipolar disorder, and epilepsy have all found genetic and familial links, which could make certain genes associated with these disorders an important area of investigation for cluster headaches research. Some researchers speculate that gene-related vulnerability factors could play an important role in the development of trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs), the category of headaches that cluster headaches are included under.
<br
Diagnosis and Treatment of Cluster Headaches
Diagnosing cluster headaches can be challenging both for patients and for their healthcare providers. Symptoms can vary widely between individuals, and cluster headaches share similarity with other headache disorders, like migraines and tension headaches.
Despite the difficulty in diagnosing cluster headaches, a person is more likely to be diagnosed with the disorder if they have several family members with a history of the same types of symptoms. This indicates that there may be a genetic component at play.
Similarly, while treatment for cluster headaches can also be difficult, understanding the potential genetic causes of the headache may help healthcare providers and patients to identify better treatment options. If a genetic link is reported in families, healthcare providers could screen for both the headache disorder and potential co-occurring conditions in the family.
<br
Hope for the Future: Genetic Factors in Treatment and Prevention
A growing body of research supports the idea that understanding the genetic factors underlying cluster headaches may lead to improved treatment options. An increased understanding of the genetics of headache disorders could help researchers and healthcare providers to better understand the mechanisms of the disorder, which in turn could potentially lead to novel treatment options.
Additionally, if the disorder does have a genetic link to it, it’s possible that many patients may be able to identify the symptoms or triggers their family has experienced, which could help to better understand their diagnosis and provide hope for relief.
Not only that, but greater understanding of the genetic links in headache disorders could help in the development of new treatments, and even perhaps avenues for prevention. That makes it important for researchers, healthcare providers, and patients to work together in order to better understand the potential genetic links of cluster headaches.
<br
Conclusion
Cluster headaches are often a difficult and debilitating condition, and research has supported the existence of genetic links to the disorder. As understanding this connection grows, families may find hope for the future in both better understanding their cluster headache diagnosis and in potentially improved treatment options. Fami