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        New Message Board Archives >> 2002 Posts >> Has anybody heard...
        
(Message started by: Jim R on Aug 24^th, 2002, 9:58am)

Title: Has anybody heard...
Post by Jim R on Aug 24^th, 2002, 9:58am

of a connection between the amount of available light (e.g. seasons) and CH? Seems that I have, and I think that this would fit in with the theory of CH originating in the hypothalamus... People with SAD (seasonal affective disorder), who get depression, particularly in those parts of the world where there is limited light at certain times of the year (e.g. Alaska), sit in front of artificial lights that trick the hypothlamus into thinking there is more light than there actually is. Has anyone ever heard or a Clusterhead trying this and if it helped? Does anything think it might be worth exploring further. Thanks guys - grasping at straws maybe, but then again there may be a relationship... PFDAN's to ya - Jim R

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by debbie4278 on Aug 24^th, 2002, 10:25am

Well, I am no researcher.
My opinion would be, no. I lived in alaska for awhile, and never met anyone with CH.
I think my hubby has SAD. And he doesn't have CH.
I love all seasons and have CH.
Although I can say I have depression alot. Since I had my daughter and came down with post partem depression, now I'm afraid I will never be able to get off the meds. I never use to take meds, just occassional counseling.
I do love the tanning booth though. Always makes me feel better.
Deb

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by Jim R on Aug 24^th, 2002, 11:00am

Deb,

If you live near South Carolina, on a really hot day you could walk to the tanning booth with Nancy C!! ;) She LOVES tanning booths partciculary duing the southern summers! LMAO Sis, if you're reading this, I just had to!!

On a serious note Deb, is it possible that one could have SAD or CH but not necessarily both? My cycles generally begain as the light is decreasing and end as the light is increasing (after the winter solstice), so I thought there might be a connection particularly because of the hypothlamus...Oh well, maybe it was a long shot...

Good luck and PFDANs to you, Deb - Jim R

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by debbie4278 on Aug 24^th, 2002, 11:05am

I would love to pick up Nancy and drive her in an air conditioned vehicle with COLD drinks to the tanning booth.
I live in Raleigh, NC. Not too far. But I don't go outside usually, except to go to the car, or at night. This heat kills me. 20 min. in the tanner I can handle!!!! :D :D :D
Give me a call Nanc!!!

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by catlind on Aug 24^th, 2002, 11:12am

Jim, my first inclination is to say no. I also suffer from SAD but heat and humidity trigger CH's for me. So I don't know if there could be a correlation.

Just my opinion.

Cat

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by Jim R on Aug 24^th, 2002, 11:36am

Cat,

Heat and humidity are triggers to me too. Seems though, as I think about this, years ago, it was my doctor that told me that I should investigate it as the hypothlamus is an organ that deals with circadian rhythms which are to an extent I believe, goverened by legth of dayight/darkness...hmmm maybe nothing, but then again... - Jim R

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by maria on Aug 24^th, 2002, 12:18pm

JimR, I live in a sunlight deprived area in the winter, jokingly here described as the Pacific NorthWET, I think the the light issue may have caused my CH to go into a dormant stage. I had CH's yearly for 22 years and have had only one cycle in the last 7 years. The headaches disappeared shortly after I took up golf. I play at least 3 days a week even in the winter here and I think the increased exposure to natural light especially in the winter may have sent the beast packing. I have read that light is the body clock's primary synchronizer and there is a connection between seratonin levels and exposure to sunlight. I also read that being outside here even in cloudy weather you will get 10X the light as being inside in a well lit office. Keeping the beast at bay for me also requires several trips a year down to the desert for some massive doses of sunshine as well as golf during the winter. ;D Well thats my story and I'm sticking to it. Maria

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by ave on Aug 24^th, 2002, 5:17pm

Jim, try and check the archives. There are some peeps who try light therapy against clusters and one who claimed it worked.

Archives is a good start for any search, anyways...

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by Charlie on Aug 24^th, 2002, 5:23pm

A long time ago, I read some posts on light therapy for CH on the old board. I bet it was late 2000. I think it was from either Denmark or the Netherlands. Others will know. Maybe Annemarie. It was interesting at the time. I haven't heard much about it of late.

Seems to me it's harmless in any event.

Really dim old Charlie

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by maria on Aug 26^th, 2002, 11:34am

JimR I found this article while doing my homework assignment for OUCH:: Funct Neurol 1998 Jul-Sep;13(3):263-72 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut

Cluster headache and periodic affective illness: common chronobiological features.

Costa A, Leston JA, Cavallini A, Nappi G.

University Centre for Adaptive Disorders and Headache (UCADH), Section of Pavia I, Italy.

Many of the seasonal changes occurring in animals appear to be associated with photoperiodic modifications, and particularly with the duration of the phases of exposure to light and dark. The integration of these processes is made possible by the normal functioning of biological oscillators or synchronizers, presumably located at the hypothalamic level. Cluster headache (CH), seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and bipolar mood disorders are conditions bearing numerous analogies, particularly as regards the temporal pattern of disturbances, the nature of predisposing or precipitating factors, the peculiar relationship with sleep, the neuroendocrine findings, and the clinical response to current treatments. The secretion of melatonin, which is influenced by the light/dark cycle, displays a bimodal pattern, which is likely to be dictated by the activity of distinct synchronizers for light and dark. Changes in the secretory pattern of this neurohormone have also been documented in both CH and SAD. The possibility of normalizing the secretory rhythm of melatonin by means of phototherapy in SAD, and the therapeutic use of the hormone to prevent the recurrence of active phases in CH, represent further interesting similarities between these two disorders. Melatonin, acting as a unique neuroendocrine transductor of photic inputs, may therefore be viewed as a marker of dyschronic disease to be used in patients suffering from CH and affective illness, for both diagnostic purposes and to assess the response to pharmacological and non pharmacological treatments.

Publication Types:
Review
Review, Academic

PMID: 9800155 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by nancyc on Aug 26^th, 2002, 11:45am

Well, that did it ..I am moving from this furnace to a place where the sun dont shine...just hope they have tanning beds ...Hey, Debbie...we need to get together..let's plan a clusterhead weekend soon...and Jim, LMAO....Dont think i will be running out of gas and walking to the tanning bed again..lol.. seriously though, i had a neuro tell me once that i lived in the worst place for chs...but he was not willing to help me relocate ;Dnancyc

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by Jim R on Aug 26^th, 2002, 11:57am

Sis, should we schedule it in Alaska or Iceland? LOL. What do you think Debbie?

Maria - THANK YOU! VERY much appreciated.

I'm going to have to re-read this tachy article later becasue my cognitive abilities areway down from all the narcs.

Charlie - thanks, my friend - it's so dim though I can hardly see ya! LMAO!

PFDANs to us ALL! - Jim R

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by BobG on Aug 26^th, 2002, 12:02pm

Here's a string on this SAD subject that might be of interest.

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/wwwboard/messages2/106504.html

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by maria on Aug 26^th, 2002, 12:05pm

The x-ed out word in the article was a-n-i-m-a-l-s!

:o Maria

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by Jim R on Aug 26^th, 2002, 12:08pm

OOOPPPS! That should have read TECHY ARTICLE, not tachy article. I do not think the article was tacky! LMAO! - Jim R

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by Drk^Angel on Aug 26^th, 2002, 4:41pm

Ewwwww... Sunlight... Can't stand the stuff...

PFDAN................. Drk^Angel

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by pjbgravely on Aug 26^th, 2002, 5:39pm

I'm with DRK, Have always loved dark days and dark nights and love winter except for that awfull sun shining off the snow. Right now sunlight is causeing pain in my eye, Thank God for sunglasses.

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by catlind on Aug 26^th, 2002, 8:38pm

on 08/24/02 at 11:36:38, Jim R wrote:

Jim, you bring up a very interesting point, but I also have CSF pressing on the pituitary gland, which also contributes to circadian rhythms. Could be something to it for some people, it might be the triggering factor for someone. Kinda like Psoriasis (which I also have) is hereditary and autoimmune in nature, and yet no one in my family ever had it, because it can lie dormant for years and years, and my ancestors probably died before it ever showed up.

Cat

Title: Re: Has anybody heard...
Post by ultio on Aug 27^th, 2002, 11:58am

I havent heard anything about it but for what its its worth I live in Tucson, I cant remember the last time I saw a cloud. I am hoping that I just finnished a set of headaches yesterday still some shadows but no definate peak yet.