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Similarities of Cluster Headache vs. Stroke

Because severe headaches are one symptom of strokes, cluster headaches and strokes are often confused. While cluster headaches can be extremely painful, they are not life threatening. Strokes, however, are medical emergencies that can result in disabilities or death.

  1. Headaches

    • According to the National Institutes of Health, symptoms of a stroke include a sudden severe headache. Cluster headaches cause a burning or sharp pain that occurs on one side of the head.

    Source

    • The pain arising from both strokes and cluster headaches is vascular in nature. According to the National Headache Foundation, cluster headache pain is caused by blood vessel swelling in the brain. Similarly, strokes can cause a weakened blood vessel in the brain to break.

    Vision

    • Victims of a stroke may experience difficulty seeing in one or both eyes. Cluster headaches can cause swelling under and around the eye or eyes, and excessive tearing. Both factors may impact a cluster headache sufferer's vision.

    Anxiety

    • A sharp spike in blood pressure can lead to a stroke, and one symptom of high blood pressure is anxiety. Cluster headaches can also produce anxiety over the pain and often causes suffers to pace during an attack.

    Prevention

    • Preventative treatments for both strokes and cluster headaches can include calcium channel blockers. Talk to your doctor before taking any medications to prevent strokes or cluster headaches.

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