What symptom might be associated with a cluster headache?

Unilateral nasal congestion is a prominent symptom associated with cluster headaches. These headaches are characterized by severe, unilateral pain, often around the eye or temple, and they tend to occur in cyclical patterns or "clusters." One of the hallmark features of cluster headaches is the autonomic symptoms that accompany the pain, which can include nasal congestion or rhinorrhea on the same side as the headache. This nasal congestion is due to parasympathetic activation, which leads to increased nasal secretions and swelling of the nasal mucosa.

In contrast, visual aura is more commonly associated with migraines rather than cluster headaches, whereas photophobia, or sensitivity to light, can also occur in migraines and tension-type headaches, but it is not a defining feature of cluster headaches. Throbbing pain is traditionally associated with migraines; cluster headaches are typically described as a sharp, stabbing pain rather than a throbbing sensation. The unique presentation of unilateral nasal congestion in combination with the severe pain distinguishes cluster headaches from other types of headaches.