Migraines might be considered the worst of all head pains, but cluster headaches might not be far behind. Presenting with massive amounts of pain in and around a single eye, these headaches come on fast, hit hard, go away and then come back again in rapid succession. The fast-paced nature of these headaches gives rise to the name.

Cluster headaches are considered very dramatic occurrences and can strike their sufferers as much as eight times a day. The pain involved in an attack can be as short lived as five minutes or span out to cover three hours or more.

Cluster headache sufferers often describe the pain involved as explosive, excruciating and piercing. The best description is like the pain that might go along with having an ice pick jammed into a single eye. The pain, in fact, can be so severe that some sufferers are known to bang their heads on hard surfaces during attacks.

Fortunately, cluster headache problems are not very common, but for those who suffer from the condition that's little comfort. In addition to the stabbing pain in the eye, a cluster headache can also come along with such symptoms nasal congestion, watery eyes, swollen eyelids and more. The patient's heart beat may increase dramatically during an attack.

Those who ensure cluster headache symptoms for long periods of time sometimes develop other conditions as a result. Anxiety, or fear of another attack, and even depression can be very real side effects of the headache condition. Considering this, it's a very good idea to seek assistance in getting the symptoms under control.

While there isn't a 100 percent effective cure for cluster headache symptoms, there is some help available. There are some drugs available to help those who suffer from cluster headache symptoms. The typical treatments include those that help lessen the pain during attacks and other drugs that help prevent attacks from coming on in the first place. There are even some surgical procedures that can help with the condition.

One unusual feature that tends to go along with cluster headache attacks is the inherent intermittent nature of the condition. Attacks can come on for weeks on end and then stop for an extended duration. This in and of itself gives rise to the concerns about anxiety disorder setting in as a result of the headaches.

Cluster headaches are not as common as other forms of head pain, but they are one of the worst conditions that can arise. Coming on hard and fast, these headaches leave their sufferers feeling drained and feeling very afraid of another attack that might yet come. Since they do tend to bunch up, once one strikes, those who suffer are almost guaranteed a repeat, and unwanted, performance.