Specifically, 71% of people who experienced cluster headaches had circadian headache patterns, with attacks peaking in the late evening to early morning, and more attacks in the spring and fall. For migraines, 50% of people had a circadian pattern of migraine attacks with a slightly wider range of times of day, from late morning to early evening.

In terms of hormonal patterns, people with cluster headaches have lower levels of cortisol and melatonin than those without cluster headaches, and those who deal with migraines have lower levels of melatonin in their urine than people without migraines , as well as lower melatonin levels during a migraine attack.

The author of the study is Mark Joseph Burish, MD, PhD. explains in a press release, “The evidence suggests that both of these headache disorders are highly circadian at many levels, especially cluster headache,” adding that these findings reinforce the importance of our circadian rhythm and its role in cluster headaches and migraines. .

“These results raise the potential for using circadian methods to treat headache disorders. This can include both treatments based on the circadian rhythm, such as taking medications at certain times of the day, and treatments that cause circadian changes, which certain medications can do,” Burish adds.