Risk Factors
Cluster headaches are, fortunately, rare, affecting less than 1% of the population.
Cluster Headaches in Men. Men are up to six to seven times more likely to suffer from cluster headaches than women are, although in recent decades the male to female ratio seems to be dropping. The peak age of onset in men is the twenties to early thirties.
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Cluster Headaches in Women. Studies of cluster headaches in women report that there are two ages of peak onset, the twenties and fifties. In some studies, the attacks in women were of shorter duration than in men but the duration of the episodes and length of remission were similar. Unlike with migraines, fluctuations in estrogen and other female hormones do not appear to influence the onset of attacks, although attacks may be less frequent during pregnancy.
Age
Cluster headaches typically start in the late twenties. In rare cases they begin in childhood, and about 10% of cases develop after age 60.
Lifestyle Factors
Cluster headaches appear to be more prevalent in those who are sociable, active, and responsible, and so a cluster headache is sometimes called "the executive headache." In one study, cluster headache patients tended to have more stressful jobs and be self-employed. Lifestyle factors, including smoking, alcohol abuse, and stress (in particular stressful work situations), appear to play a very strong role in this headache. Alcohol, in fact, can trigger an attack. A particularly high association exists between smoking and cluster headaches. Quitting smoking, however, is not associated with any fewer or less severe attacks.
Family History and Genetic Factors
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