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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> SMOKERS...Please respond
        
(Message started by: GlendaB on Jul 12^th, 2005, 7:05pm)

Title: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by GlendaB on Jul 12^th, 2005, 7:05pm

Do any of you feel like if you smoke your usual amount of cigarettes while in cycle or if you smoke more than you usually do that it is a trigger or makes your headaches worse when they do hit?

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by unsolved1 on Jul 12^th, 2005, 7:38pm

I don't feel like my smoking has anything to do with my clusters. I quit smoking for almost a year and still had clusters everyday. I just can't / don't smoke during a headache.

Unsolved

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by E-Double on Jul 12^th, 2005, 7:39pm

Quite a few people say that it can actually abort.....
or reduce the intensity.

My feeling is this....

If you are a smoker that it might reduce some of the pain due to it being a vasoconstrictor as well it might alleviate some of the anxiety which spikes while being hit.

Never found it to be a trigger......

Side note; though many use the word trigger.....as far as research goes there appear to be only 2 truly common triggers for CHer's....Nitric oxide (and chemiclas within the same family....nitroglycerin) and alcohol.
Many people have increased sensitivity to additional stimuli that can exaserbate symptoms of CH.......just from the readings that I have done.

Best,

Eric

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by Topical on Jul 12^th, 2005, 7:49pm

Did you hear about the recent study involving Parkinson's Disease?
The drugs taken to control it made the patients compulsive gamblers. It shows how odd our brains are.

It may be that our brain chemistry makes things like smoking a predominant trait. I with I could tell you. I do smoke as do roughly 80 percent of CH sufferers.

I wonder if I started smoking because I was going to be a CH sufferer.

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by fat___pam on Jul 12^th, 2005, 8:38pm

Dave, my CH boyfriend uses smoking to abort his HA, it works about 20 percent of the time and seems to stop the level of pain without the HA getting worse about 20 percent of the time. He was a non smoker with CH for about 10 years before he started smoking. He actually started smoking with the hope of aborting the HA. Unfortunately he became addicted to them and over time they seem to have less effect for aborting HA. He recently quit but once his HA started again he is now smoking almost a pack a day much to my dissatisfaction (and his too). It does not seem to effect his cycle over all and smoking does not seem to be a trigger or to make them worse in anyway.
He was using Wellbutrin/Zyban(an antidepressant) to quit smoking and either as coincidence or some weird drug thing he didn't seem to have many HA while on it. After he stopped smoking and went of the Zyban he started getting hit hard. Maybe he was out of cycle or maybe it helped. I guess that would be an entirely different post however.
Good luck.
C

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jul 12^th, 2005, 8:39pm

Smoke is not a trigger for a CHA - not for me. Like most, I can't even comprehend smoking during an attack - hard to smoke and pound your head against the wall at the same time! However, I find a cigarette to be of great comfort once the HA has ended.

Alot of us are smokers, but not all. We all have clusters. I think finding a corellation between the two is wishful thinking.

Just my opinion,

Kris

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by Chillrmn1 on Jul 12^th, 2005, 8:44pm

I can't smoke during an attack either, seems to intensify the attack. But afterwards, a good smoke does it for me and I don't find it to be a trigger either.

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by maffumatt on Jul 12^th, 2005, 9:34pm

I chainsmoke when I get hit, its not an abortave but it does ease the pain somewhat.....

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by BlueMeanie on Jul 12^th, 2005, 11:31pm

A CH attack is like sex. You gotta light up when it's over. [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by AussieBrian on Jul 12^th, 2005, 11:31pm

Apparently some 49% of CHers smoke - well above the national average.

So does smoking cause CH, or does CH cause smoking?

As for myself, I wouldn't be without them before or during, and they're all that keeps me sane after.

Well, relatively sane.

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by burnt-toast on Jul 13^th, 2005, 3:19am

I smoke like a chimney during attacks. Without CH I'd probably smoke about 1/2 pack a day.

Could it possibly mean that CH triggers smoking? ;)

Tom

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by duerrs on Jul 13^th, 2005, 3:23am

i light up right after one too, as a matter of fact, smoking right now, can anyone guess what i'm doing up at 3:23 am :(

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by burnt-toast on Jul 13^th, 2005, 3:32am

on 07/13/05 at 03:23:43, duerrs wrote:

i light up right after one too, as a matter of fact, smoking right now, can anyone guess what i'm doing up at 3:23 am :(

Obviously working on a Masters in Pain Management. Who needs to waste time on something as-stupid-as sleeping anyway.

P.S. get some sleep - abnormal sleep habits trigger CH attacks. [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] Who writes this stuff anyway?

Tom

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by Topical on Jul 13^th, 2005, 5:07am

This was interesting, I don't know when the study was done. Smoking nowadays is much less prevalent.

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/general/lifestyle.htm

....As regards nonessential consumption habits, both cigarette-smoking and coffee and alcohol intake were more frequently reported in CH patients than in the general population, with a higher prevalence in chronic CH as opposed to episodic CH sufferers.

In particular, smokers accounted for 78.9% of episodic CH patients and 87.8% of chronic CH patients--12.9% of episodic CH patients and 19.6% of chronic CH patients smoked over 30 cigarettes a day.

Alcohol abuse was reported in 16.2% of episodic and 26.8% of chronic CH patients, while coffee abuse was reported in 6.9% of episodic and in 36.6% of chronic CH patients. Rather than pointing to a single lifestyle factor directly implicated in CH onset, my review suggests a common trend among CH patients to overindulge in certain living habits.

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by millie the episodic on Jul 13^th, 2005, 8:12am

Okay, Chers smoke, CHers drink, CHers abuse zomig, imitrex, coffee, are hunked on painkillers, and antidepressants. :-X
They are lonely, misunderstood creatures looking for anything to calm the beast. [smiley=huh.gif]
But I do think that a good, long pull seems to be like, blowing cigerette smoke in a non-smokers face. :o
And yes, after the big fight, you do need a fresh, good, long pull. :o
I sure want be caught without my pack during an attack. ;)
I would say you smoke more than usual, when in a cycle. But I don't see it as a trigger, more like the H/A as a trigger you to smoke. :-*
And this is my opinion. ::)

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by seasonalboomer on Jul 13^th, 2005, 8:50am

on 07/12/05 at 23:31:24, BlueMeanie wrote:

A CH attack is like sex. You gotta light up when it's over. [smiley=laugh.gif]

Whoa! I don't know what kind of sex you're having there but.......

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by Linda_Howell on Jul 13^th, 2005, 10:47am

A lot of us use 02 when getting hit.

THAT would be a very good reason to not light up at that time. :o

Linda

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by duerrs on Jul 13^th, 2005, 11:00am

god i wish i could get sleep, i get like 45 min to an hour and i'm up with my friend, every few days i can get a full nights sleep, other than that, i'm up half the night

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by BobG on Jul 13^th, 2005, 11:47am

on 07/12/05 at 19:05:02, GlendaB wrote:

Do any of you feel like if you smoke your usual amount of cigarettes while in cycle or if you smoke more than you usually do that it is a trigger or makes your headaches worse when they do hit?

No.

on 07/12/05 at 23:31:30, AussieBrian wrote:

So does smoking cause CH, or does CH cause smoking?

The hypothalamus has a lot to do with habits, good and bad. Clusterheads have a broken hypothalamus.

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by drivin_blind on Jul 13^th, 2005, 2:48pm

My worst nightmare. Smoking my last cigarette at onset, then realizing the wife drank the last of the coffee before leaving for work. Alcohol has been non-existent since 1985 so that's a non-issue.

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by wip5150 on Jul 13^th, 2005, 4:40pm

I don't smoke - never have in fact so bascially I'm adding nothing to this thread. ;;D

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by cazman on Jul 13^th, 2005, 6:11pm

first of all thanks wip5150 for giving and not just taking i like to see that bro keep it up.

for me smoking helps when im getting hit it brings the pain down as longas i do it before it hits a k6 after that it dont help but as we all know smoking is just plian bad and when this cycle is totally over im going to quit.

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by kevinchristian77 on Jul 14^th, 2005, 3:14pm

im agreeing with pretty much everyone here, smoking during a ch, id rather be banging my head against my punching bag(wife bought me one, thought it would be better than the wall or bed post). Not to mention trying to coordinate getting the cig out of the pack, lighting it , and then trying smoke it, to much work.

but it sure does feel good when i take the o2 mask off and light one up

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by clusterkat on Jul 14^th, 2005, 4:30pm

smiles @ all the smokers with understanding.
i was smoke free, till a bad attack last month & i justified litin up again.
yeah, i know, its difficult to relate if your a NON-SMOKER but there's something about a cigarette that gives (me) some relief after a bad ch. smoking during? im lucky if i can breath without pain.
and im quiting again & again & again till i stop smoking!
to smoke or not to smoke?

To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did, I ought to know because I've done it a thousand times.
Author: Mark Twain 1835-1910, American Humorist, Writer

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by Bob P on Jul 14^th, 2005, 4:54pm

If I'm due for a cluster, smoking will trigger the attack within 15 minutes. I can smoke after an attack with no problem - it doesn't trigger another attack.

Enev though nicotine may be a vasoconstrictor, Ueli had a good post on the CO in tobacco smoke displacing the oxygen in the blood, which could trigger an attack.

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by hurtinunit on Jul 14^th, 2005, 5:27pm

smoking during a hit seems to make it slightly worse sometimes but i do it anyways im a chain smoker cant help it

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by dmurp on Jul 15^th, 2005, 12:26pm

Smoker myself soon to be nonsmoker in August. Thats my quitting date. Mom passed away two years ago from cancer found out she had it and six weeks later she passed away. Let my self continue to smoke but need to quit so i can live longer for kids......Anyway not preaching just giving a little background info on self....Yes I seem to smoke right at the onset of a headache and it either peaks immediately or not and thats how I can tell how bad it gets.....Quitting does it make headaches worse???

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by Cooked Brain on Jul 15^th, 2005, 8:22pm

I smoke more when in cycle, does not make it worse...

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by paul_pero on Jul 16^th, 2005, 8:15am

I only started smoking after 2yrs (episodal) of CH's. Have given up around 4 times now and keep going back. Do tend to smoke more when have HA's. Does not trigger them and have not been able to have one when in full kick, but think that I have been able to abort a few with a smoke. It could also have been just a shadow or low Kip Ha coming anyway and the smoke did nothing.
Would really like to quit for good, they're too expensive.

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by Limey on Jul 16^th, 2005, 1:31pm

I went on a one year health binge once. No coffee. No tea. No alcohol. No fatty foods or high carbs. No sugar. No smoking. Gym 3 times a week. That year I had the worst CH cycle I've ever had and it lasted 8 weeks (normally lasts 2 weeks). That proved to me that CH's are sod all to do with diet or smoking.

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by rubberplant on Jul 18^th, 2005, 1:33pm

I don't think I could get it together to even light one during...

...afterwards though in that dizzy enlightened point of being. It's the first thing I think of...

James

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by TonyG1 on Jul 18^th, 2005, 9:12pm

on 07/12/05 at 21:34:29, maffumatt wrote:

I chainsmoke when I get hit, its not an abortave but it does ease the pain somewhat.....

[smiley=smokin.gif] Ditto [smiley=smokin.gif]

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by Lissa on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 8:25am

Cigarette smoke without a doubt triggers my headaches.

Title: Re: SMOKERS...Please respond
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 4:48pm

Oh, cigarettes?
no problem there. Weed either. I smoke more weed than Bob Marley and it doesnt seem to affect the CH. Even back when Bob Marley was alive, I still smoked more than he did.
BMonee