What triggers cluster headaches?

What triggers cluster headaches?

If you experience cluster headaches, you likely know the triggers. These are things that can start headaches or otherwise affect them.

There are two ways to look at triggers:

• Triggers that start a new cycle (round) of headaches: Most people go months or years between cluster headache periods. When headaches start again, the shift often appears tied to changes in seasons. (The connection leads people to think they have allergies or sinusitis.) It may happen because of suspected ties between cluster headaches and the hypothalamus. This part of your brain contains your “circadian clock,” a built-in schedule that responds to sunlight.
• Triggers that affect headaches during a cycle: During headache periods, the blood vessels in your brain change. These changes make you more sensitive to alcohol and nicotine. Drinking just a little alcohol can bring on a headache. Smoking can also make headaches feel worse or trigger a headache.