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Topic: Why does oxygen help? (Read 4361 times) |
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PaulL
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Why does oxygen help?
« on: Jan 6th, 2005, 7:59pm » |
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Does anyone know why breathing oxygen helps reduce the pain of CHs? Does it: constrict the blood vessels; lower blood pressure; eat toxins; any idea?
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Mr. Happy
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If I can do it, it ain't art.
    
 
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Re: Why does oxygen help?
« Reply #1 on: Jan 6th, 2005, 9:24pm » |
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constrict the blood vessels - DING!
We have a winner.....
RJ
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May those who don't want any
Have memories of never getting any.
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Ueli
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Paul, the mechanism is very simple: The brain, being our most important organ, takes precedence on all resources. It takes exactly the amount of oxygen it needs. When we breath pure oxygen, the blood is more saturated with oxygen than normally. Therefore, the brain issues a command to constrict the supplying artery in order not to get too much.
Since the expansion of this very same artery is involved in the feedback loop that leads to the rapid raise of cluster pain, it's constriction can damp down this raise or even abort an attack.
From this also follows why oxygen should be taken as soon as possible, at the very first sign of an oncoming attack, and why it takes much longer to kill an attack already well under way.
Imitrex works because it constricts the same vessel. But since the blood is not enriched in oxygen, for some people the blood pressure has to be raised, in order get enough oxygen to the brain.
The term "toxins" is reserved for the wellness folks, who sell stuff that "cleanses" you in days from toxins that have accumulated over years. 
PFNADs, Ueli 
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john_d
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thank you Ueli, that was very helpful to me as well. I just started on O2 and that explains alot.
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PaulL
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Re: Why does oxygen help?
« Reply #4 on: Jan 7th, 2005, 6:08pm » |
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Thanks for the reply Ueli, it explains a lot. I knew that was the reason that breathing cold air helps, it constricts the blood vessels in the sinuses. But that only works if the sinuses aren't stuffed up. Breathing thru the nose if possible and exhaling through the mouth might be a good technique. That way the cool O2 does double duty and the sinus blood vessels aren't warmed up by the exhaled air.
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RichardN
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Re: Why does oxygen help?
« Reply #5 on: Jan 7th, 2005, 6:44pm » |
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How's it working for you John?
Were you able to get the high-flow regulator?
Is a miracle for me . . . can't do imitrex.
PFDAN's
Richard
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I can live with the beast as long as I don't have to "dance" with the bastard.
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