Migraines/Cluster headaches

Migraine headaches are severe periodic, unilateral, pulsatile headaches that may be associated with nausea, malaise, vomiting, and photophobia.

Factors that often precipitate attack are environmental stimuli such as emotional stress, strenuous physical exercise, too much sleep or sleep deprivation, some food (chocolate, aged cheese, nuts), alcohol (especially red wine), medical conditions and medication (antihypertensive drugs, contraceptive drugs, nitroglycerin).

Many migraine patients notice a relief in symptoms within minutes of breathing the pure oxygen that fills the chambers. The increased amount of oxygen in the blood raise the oxygen levels in the brain tissues, even when contracted blood vessels reduce blood flow. The effect of this is that the interval between attacks is significantly increased in most cases.

Global headache severity was measured by a verbal descriptor scale before and after exposure to oxygen. One group received 100% oxygen at 1 atmosphere of pressure (normobaric) while the other received 100% oxygen at 2 atmospheres of pressure (hyperbaric). One of the 10 patients in the normobaric group achieved significant relief of headache symptoms, while 9 of 10 in the hyperbaric group found relief.

Keywords: Migraines/Cluster, Headaches, Treatment