Oxygen Therapy for Cluster Headaches
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Defined Tag: Cluster Headache Cause.

Oxygen therapy is believed to be very effective for cluster headaches. Although accepted by some medical practitioners, oxygen therapy and its benefits remain obscure to many doctors. Even insurance companies are not too clear about it and hesitate reimbursing for this type of treatment. It might help if you substantiate your claim with a letter written by your physician.

How Effective is Oxygen Therapy?

About half of the people suffering from cluster type headaches find relief with oxygen therapy. This may seem promising, but the other half does not receive any benefits at all.  If you are battling with cluster headaches and would like to experiment with oxygen therapy, you can always request for a trial run through your doctor.

Oxygen Therapy: Its Beginnings

Medical experts began looking into oxygen as a possible headache treatment way back in 1939.  Dr. Alvarez at the Mayo Clinic discovered that 80% of their patients with severe migraine attacks were either completely relieved or significantly helped. The treatment included the wearing of a nasal type of mask which provided the patients pure oxygen at a flow of six to eight liters a minute. Oxygen therapy was also found effective in alleviating other types of headache. Further, the researchers found that the therapy has more chances to provide relief if administered immediately, at the onset of a migraine attack. Despite encouraging results, the study did not report more details unlike the more thorough researches done recently.
 
100% Pure Oxygen

In what is perhaps the most important study done on oxygen therapy and its effectiveness in relieving cluster headaches, Dr. Kudrow treated 52 out-patients with pure oxygen. His findings are extremely encouraging the highlights of which are:

* In seven out of ten attacks, about 75% of test patients found complete or nearly complete relief from their headaches within 15 minutes.

* Better response to the oxygen treatment was obtained from people younger than 50 than those older than 50.

* Sixty percent of those treated felt better after only seven minutes of oxygen inhalation.

Better than Air

Dr.  Fogan did a supplemental study where he proved that inhaling oxygen brings about definite improvement rather than breathing in regular air. He proved the oxygen itself was responsible for making people better, not the mask or tank.

How Does Oxygen Therapy Work?

Inhaling pure oxygen reduces headaches has long been accepted by medical practitioners; the how and why of its process is still unknown except for some observations made during previous researches. Those studies have shown an increase in cerebral blood flow during cluster headaches and migraines. The same studies also showed that with additional oxygen, there is a marked decreased in blood flow in the brain that coincides with the pain relief experienced by the patients.

Oxygen Therapy: Side Effects

Most of those suffering from cluster headaches are smokers.  The huge risk is in case one lights up when beside an open oxygen tank, which could lead to explosive results.

According to Dr. Kudrow, 25% of his test patients had to deal with rebound headaches after their oxygen therapy.  No other side effects have been reported.

What is Ergotamine?

As a vasoconstrictor, ergotamine is commonly used to prevent headaches and migraines. However, use of this medication involves several side effect, including nausea and vomiting, a sense or unreality and cramping in the legs. Ergotamine is not administered to hypertensive patients and those with peripheral vascular disease and infections. However, oxygen can be used, and without those side effects.

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