Science Friday When Headaches Are Ruining Your Life, Where Can You Turn?
Aug 13, 2025
Tom Zeller Jr., editor in chief of Undark and author of The Headache, shares his personal battle with debilitating cluster headaches for over 30 years. He dives into the mysterious nature of headaches, revealing how little is understood about their mechanisms. Zeller contrasts cluster headaches with migraines, emphasizing their intense pain and unpredictability. He discusses the stigma surrounding headache disorders and highlights breakthroughs like CGRP inhibitors, offering hope for effective treatment. His insights shed light on the underappreciated field of headache science.
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Decades-Long Onset Of Cluster Headaches
- Tom Zeller Jr. developed cluster headaches in his early 20s and suffered for roughly 30 years.
- He describes the pain as sudden, extreme, and life-disrupting, likening it to an impossible-to-remove hand on a hot burner.
Rapid, Immobilizing Attack Behavior
- Cluster headache attacks come on within seconds and reach unbearable intensity fast.
- Zeller says sufferers cannot sit still and often writhe in extreme pain during attacks.
Beyond Blood Vessels: CNS Role In Headaches
- Historical focus blamed dilated blood vessels for headache pain, but that's likely oversimplified.
- Recent evidence points to central nervous system drivers and neurochemical activity as key components.
