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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Smoking
        
(Message started by: sms119 on Jun 22^nd, 2007, 1:45pm)

Title: Smoking
Post by sms119 on Jun 22^nd, 2007, 1:45pm

Hey Everyone,
Its my first time writing on the board. I started getting CHs 6 years ago when I was 21. I started smoking when I was about 20 and in reading about the affliction read that smoking exacerbated it. I'm in the process of quitting smoking. To be honest, the prospect of ending or even slowing the CHs was the main impetus to quit above and beyond the long term health benefits. I was just wondering if any of you who quit smoking after getting CHs had any significant change in the frequency or intensity of our headaches?

Spencer

P.S. I have been reading the site for a couple of hours now. I have to say that one of the worst parts of CHs is trying to explain to those around you what you're going through. Its so hard to be taken seriously. Its nice (well not nice, but you know what I mean) to be able to discuss this with people who understand how miserable it all can be. This is a wonderful forum filled with positive people. I'm very, very glad I found it.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jun 22^nd, 2007, 1:55pm

While medical literature warns against smoking the informal polls here--at least the folks who respond to this question--seem to tend to, "no effect".

I assume that doc believe that the toxins from smoking make blood vessels more sensitive, contributing to pain, during an attack. (There are abundant reasons for giving up smoking regardless of the impact on CH, one hardly need say.)
---------
Headache. 2006 Sep;46(8):1246-54.

Cluster headache: clinical presentation, lifestyle features, and medical treatment.

Schurks M, Kurth T, de Jesus J, Jonjic M, Rosskopf D, Diener HC.

Background.-Cluster headache (CH) is a rare but severe headache form with a distinct clinical presentation. Misdiagnoses and mismanagement among these patients are high. Objective.-To characterize clinical features and medical treatment in patients with CH. Methods.-We established a cohort of 246 clinic-based and non-clinic-based CH patients. The diagnosis of CH was verified according to International Headache Society (IHS) criteria. We used standardized questionnaires to assess associated factors as well as success or failure of treatments. Results.-The majority (75.6%) was not treated before at our clinic-77.6% were males; 74.8% had episodic CH, 16.7% had chronic CH, in the remaining patients, the periodicity was undetermined because they were newly diagnosed. Cranial autonomic features were present in 98.8%, nausea and vomiting in 27.8%, and photophobia or phonophobia in 61.2% of CH patients. Most (67.9%) reported restlessness during attacks and 23% a typical migrainous aura preceding the attacks. The rate of current smoking was high (65.9%). Half of the patients reported that alcohol (red wine in 70%) triggered CH attacks. Eighty-seven percent reported the use of drugs of first choice (triptans 77.6%, oxygen 71.1%) with sumatriptan subcutaneous injection being the most effective drug for acute therapy (81.2%). The most frequently used preventive medications were verapamil (70.3%) and glucocorticoids (57.7%) with equally high effectiveness. Conclusions.-Apart from the IHS criteria additional features like nausea/vomiting and migrainous aura may guide the diagnosis of CH. A large number of CH patients do not receive adequate treatments. (Headache 2006;46:1246-1254).

PMID: 16942468 [PubMed]
========================================================================================
Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2003 Apr;7(2):144-9.

Epidemiology of cluster headache.

Finkel AG.

Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 3114 Bioinformatics Building, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. finkela@glial.med.unc.edu

Cluster headache is rare, occurring in less than 1% of the population. Studies suggest that, in addition to the pain and associated autonomic disturbances recognized to be characteristic of the syndrome, patients also may experience nausea, photophobia, behavioral agitation, or restlessness. A decreasing male:female ratio also has been noted, perhaps attributable to lifestyle trends adopted by more women that were previously associated with men, such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and working outside of the home. The relationship between cluster headache and hormonal events does not appear to be strong. Hormonal influences on the chronic form of cluster headache in women are a subject of investigation. The emerging understanding of the genetics of cluster headache increasingly suggests a genetic component, with familial transmission now recognized to be more common than previously appreciated. Head trauma, coronary artery disease, and migraine appear to be present in more patients with cluster headache than can be explained by chance alone. Ethnic and racial differences in prevalence are less well understood.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 12628057 [PubMed]

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by michael on Jun 22^nd, 2007, 1:56pm

Hi Spencer.

Glad you found us although sorry you had to.

I started with CH at 14 and I am now 54!

I have been a smoker since I was 16, ie after the clusters started.

I have had many attempts at giving up - once I managed 4 years, why I started again after that is another story.

My clusters have not been changed by any of my attempts to stop, not even for that 4 year period.

I think you will find that smoking or not has no real effect on CH. However, that is no reason not to try to stop.

Mike

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by Rosybabe on Jun 22^nd, 2007, 2:10pm

Hi Spencer!

Welcome aboard!!

I am a sufferer since I was 12, now I am 35 and I am not a smoker but my father, and Grandmother(on the family side) smoke. Smoke is a trigger for me, just the smell of it. So I do try to stay away from those who smoke. I am sure quitting with help you not only with the CH's but also your health in general and the health of those around you.

Good Luck Spencer and I am glad you found this site!

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by Redd on Jun 22^nd, 2007, 4:23pm

I commend your commitment to quit. I happen to be one of the rare cases I guess. Although it went misdiagnosed for 18 years, I have been chronic for nearly 24 years now. It was almost 4 years ago that made an attempt to quit smoking. Cold turkey. Was going great for about a month when my CH went into a high cycle from hell, and I finally got correctly diagnosed. My headache specialist explained that quitting smoking has major effects on seratonin levels, and it is known that seratonin plays a role in CH as well. Figuratively speaking...quitting smoking pissed off the beast.

Before the final word on the diagnosis I stated again when "brain tumor" was mentioned. I spent almost a week waiting for the MRI. I figured to myself if I'm dying of a brain tumor, then my lungs be damned. Now, with my chosen regimine of preventive treatment that is working quite well indeed, I'm considering possibly trying to quit again. Am i scared I'll piss the beast off again? Yes I am.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by sms119 on Jun 22^nd, 2007, 5:33pm

Thanks to everyone who replied. I hope I didn't make it sound like the effect of quitting on my headaches was going to be the determining factor. I AM quitting. I was just thinking that if I knew that it was going to help my CHs it would just be that much more incentive you know?
Redd. God I feel for you, man. To have the negative reinforcement of thinking that quitting may make the headaches worse must make the idea of quitting that much harder. I know its easy and probably naive to say as a 27 year old but I know that I have been really active since quitting and that has helped dull the cravings significantly as well as give me a much needed endorphin rush. I'm not 100% sure that seratonin and endorphins are related but it will make you feel good, even if it makes you initially, if you haven't exercised much, like crap. I'm pulling for you man. Let me know if you ever decide to quit. I'm guessing it always helps to know someone else in the world is giving those bastards up as well.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by GrandPotentate on Jun 23^rd, 2007, 12:04am

Everybody is different.

I find doing any significant lifestyle change while in cycle is a bad idea, but some moderation helps.

The worst headbangers I had were following a business trip while in cycle, enduring two 25 hour trips in planes, airports and cabs - all smoke free. Nicorette got me through the travel but the rebound was sheer hell.

I quit AFTER a cycle several years ago, had heard a couple anecdotes that it can help. I had 4 years relatively PF, and milder cycle (peaks at 4ha/day, kip 7) since.

My best o you, whatever you choose.

Jon

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by Buzz on Jun 23^rd, 2007, 1:39am

I stopped smoking for 4 years and had no respite from the headaches. [smiley=smokin.gif]

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by seasonalboomer on Jun 23^rd, 2007, 5:34am

never really noticed any drastic effect on CH from quitting smoking 10 years ago. But, I will tell you quitting smoking ranks up there as one of the best things I ever did for MYSELF in my whole life. Keep it up and keep the faith -- you can beat it.

I will add that when I quit smoking I ended up becoming more engaged in healthier activities and getting myself in better physical condition. This focus HAS, I believe, helped me manage my CH better as I have better mental stamina and endurance to deal with CH when cycle comes around. So, in a roundabout way, it helped.

Scott

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by horsegirl on Jun 23^rd, 2007, 7:23pm

i was getting headaches 2 xs a year and when i was 22 i think ,having had cluster ha sense 15,anyway i moved to california from iowa and quit smoking i didnt have my ha for two years climate or qiting,dont know,i did notice the pain of my ha wasnt as savier in cal .and by the way i only quit for 6 months,i plan on quiting soon before my ha arnt the only reason i need o2 but not tell my ha are gone there not much injoyment these days,im depressed as it is,tackle one thing at a time.Id go back to cal but my husband wont leave iowa,love is worth it.i guess.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by puppetonastring on Jun 24^th, 2007, 12:17pm

Spencer,

I'm a smoker as well. CH's started when I was about 19, been smoking (non-socially) since I was about 20.

I've not "quit" for an extended period of time, so I can't really comment on whether or not it helps mitigate the severity of CH attacks or not over the long term.

I've cut smoking out a couple of times in cycle (specifically high cycle) as it seemed to be a "partial" trigger. Other than being a trigger, I diddn't notice any impact on severity.

However, the last coupe of cycles it has not been a trigger. As usual CH has a canny ability to morph both within cycle and (for episodics) from cycle to cycle.

Scott's comment:

"I will add that when I quit smoking I ended up becoming more engaged in healthier activities and getting myself in better physical condition. This focus HAS, I believe, helped me manage my CH better as I have better mental stamina and endurance to deal with CH when cycle comes around. So, in a roundabout way, it helped. "

seems the best reason to try and quit period. It's really about being able to best manage the CH -
Don't let it run the show!

(All else aside - and I keep telling myself this - quitting smoking would be a GOOD thing to do)

Martin

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by ClusterChris on Jun 24^th, 2007, 5:01pm

It's sad of me to say this but, smoking is one of the only things that helps me get through a long hit. :-X

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by nosslived on Jun 24^th, 2007, 8:50pm

Clusters is a vascular headache which, as most of you probably know is caused by dilation of the blood vessels. I read also that nicotine causes the blood vessels to constrict. There seems to be a contradiction here. I just quit smoking and I have chronic clusters so I guess I'll see what happens. It's been about 10 days since my last attack (which happened while I was in class...that is the worst) and I quit about 7 days ago. It is a waiting game.

On a more longitudinal note, I started smoking when I was about 14 (I'm 23 now) and I was attacked by my first cluster when I was 21. So it might not be related to smoking at all, but as was mentioned before it is based on individual differences.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by JohnM on Jun 26^th, 2007, 6:30am

I started smoking when I was about 12 years old. By 16 I was a regular smoker. I first started to try and give up smoking in my early 20s because of a smokers cough. I cut down slowly, missing the first of the day, then only after 10am, then only from the afternoon, then evenings only, until I was on only 2 or 3 an evening for several years. I finally quit totally (except for a very rare cigar on festive occasions) when I was 28 and have hated cigarette smoking with a passion ever since.

I started with a few headaches in junior school and migraines in high school. The yearly CH pattern started in my 20's. For the next 30 years I still got yearly CH despite not smoking.

I think smoking is despicable, like many ex smokers, but I doubt it will stop your CH unfortunately. Give it up anyway if you can for general health reasons.

I am now 55 and I am starting my 7th year of "almost" total remission, which I put down to a regular 6 monthly detox 2 week diet which I started in May 2001. I had a 10 day bout of CH over Xmas 2003 when I got cocky and missed doing my detox in the previous October.

John

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by Redd on Jun 26^th, 2007, 9:10am

I applaud anyone who can/has quit smoking.

Something that holds a curiosity for me is that some professionals contend that smoking and Clusters may have a connection due to an addictive personality. I beg to differ. There may addictive qualities, but I would hypothosize that it is due to a positive reinforcement connection.

Nicotine is a powerful vaso-constrictor. Many of us CHeads who smoke find comfort sometimes during or just after an attack in smoking. It is logical to make a connection between the vaso-constrictive nature as positive reinforcement for continueing to smoke.

Just a hypothosis of mine.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by Wayne on Jun 26^th, 2007, 1:10pm

Nicotine is a powerful vaso-constrictor. Many of us CHeads who smoke find comfort sometimes during or just after an attack in smoking. It is logical to make a connection between the vaso-constrictive nature as positive reinforcement for continueing to smoke.

I couldn't agree more! Before I was properly diagnosed I was told by a Doc that my smoking was agravating my sinus and that's what was causing my horrible headaches, That really inspired me to stop. I quit for 3 weeks and it had absolutely no positive effect on the CH but I was twice as miserable because of the withdrawal and cos I'd lost my crutch. Eventually I actually thought they were getting worse, started smoking again and have ever since.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by Redd on Jun 26^th, 2007, 1:32pm

There in lays the rub, Wayne. Smoking, in and of itself, is harmful to the body. We know this.

However, to postulate that the vaso-constrictve properties of ciggaretts is, if not benificial on a physical level, at least an emotional one, would fly in the face of all the lobby's to curtail smoking, short of making it an illegal substance, and the medical/insurance companies at the root of the movement.

I'm not saying that quitting smoking would not improve overall health in may areas. Only that to admit to the positive benefits nicotine has, the quickness of administration by smoking to acheive speedy vaso-constriction, would be counter productive to the "stop smoking cause". Thereby rendering any attempts at study on this fruitless, and certainly not un-biased.

edit: because I had forgot a key phrase.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by Patrick_A on Jul 3^rd, 2007, 5:34pm

I quit smoking 2 years ago. I have been CH free for 4 years now. I don't know if nicotine affects CH, but it didnt seem to affect me after I quit smoking.

Patrick_A :)

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by agonymum on Jul 3^rd, 2007, 6:12pm

hi , :)

just do it anyway , i quit 16 months ago , it was the best thing i have ever done to help myself in so many ways .
( it hasnt stopped the clusters but im sure that i am more patient and less stressed on the whole so that must help a bit )

good luck !

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by UN solved on Jul 3^rd, 2007, 7:48pm

I quit smoking a couple of times ;) Once, I quit for a year and it happens to be the worse year I've had since having clusters. :-/ I smoke now and it does not seem to be a trigger.

I wanted to ask: can some people actually smoke during a hit ? I know I sure can't smoke while being stabbed in the eye ! @\/@ ::)

Quitting smoking can only help your health !! Do yourself a favor and quit today !! Or you can wait til you get bronchitis, emphasemia, and COPD ... like I did ! :-/

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by michael on Jul 4^th, 2007, 4:02am

No. Never been able to smoke during a hit

Mike

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by Wayne on Jul 4^th, 2007, 6:11am

I do smoke during the walkabout phase of a hit, actually chain smoke but its more to try and destract myself than for any beneficial effect.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by E-Double on Jul 4^th, 2007, 8:11am

Whattup fellow NYer!

Many reasons for quitting smoking and all here are valid.
Of course health is the most important.

Though some find ill effect in trying to quit whether it be due to an increase in vasodialtion or drastic changes in sertonin levels(??) Some may find it beneficial because they are more responsive to treatment and they feel better overall (eventually)

I have helped quite a few people quit yet I am stumped and struggle myself.

As far as the psychological aspects of smoking behavior
and why we may continue to do so,
we can look at in basic learning principles:
Positive reinforcement: presentation of a pleasnt event that increase/strengthens a behavior
Negative reinforcement: removalof an aversive which increase/strengthens a behavior
Both individualized
For smokers at least those who are addicted and dependent there is a combination:

*We like the high= positive reinforcement
*Do we seek Comfort = positive reinforcement
or
*Do we seek the removal of anxiety = negative reinfocement

It is a combination of both with both socially mediated postives and negatives as well as automatically reinforced behavior

Lesson complete

Quit!
We'll see if I can do it as well

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by midwestbeth on Jul 4^th, 2007, 8:56am

on 07/03/07 at 19:48:34, UN solved wrote:

I wanted to ask: can some people actually smoke during a hit ? I know I sure can't smoke while being stabbed in the eye ! @\/@ ::)

I could never even think about smoking during a hit. Can't even be in the same room as a smoker.

Beth

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by cluster on Jul 5^th, 2007, 5:50am

Quote:

Eleven cluster headache patients with no prior tobacco use history were identified at the Michigan Head-Pain and Neurological Institute over the past 1 year. A history of parental smoking was obtained. A history of head trauma, another recognized risk factor for cluster headache, was also ascertained. Seven men and four women were identified. Three of the men had a history of head trauma prior to cluster headache onset and were not included in the analysis. The remaining eight individuals (four males, four females) all had parents who smoked and each stated they were exposed to significant tobacco smoke during their childhood. For five patients both parents smoked. All developed episodic cluster headache. Ages of onset were 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, and 50 years.

This observation suggests that prolonged exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke from parents could lead to the development of cluster headache. The age of onset of cluster headache in these individuals appears to be earlier than that described in the literature (average age above 27 years).4 The number of patients identified was small but women were as frequent as men. Cluster headache is recognized as a male disorder but recent evidence suggests that the number of women with cluster headache is increasing.5 The reason for this surge is unknown. Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke could be hypothesized as one of the possible causes of this trend. The true role of cigarette smoking in cluster headache pathogenesis is unknown but this severe headache syndrome maybe another consequence of exposure of children to tobacco smoke.
Todd D. Rozen, MD

Source: Todd D. Rozen MD (2005)
Childhood Exposure to Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke and the Development of Cluster Headache
Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 45 (4), 393–394

Any non-smoking CH patients here, which were or were not exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke during their childhood?

pf wishes,
(the "marlboro man" who started smoking when he was 14 and who was very likely exposed to second-hand cigarette smoke during his childhood and who developed CH at the age of 37.)
Friedrich

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by seasonalboomer on Jul 5^th, 2007, 8:09am

on 07/05/07 at 05:50:54, cluster wrote:

This is pretty tough one to make a conclusion on, especailly for anyone that is over 30. I didn't know anyone growing up whose parents didn't smoke. Maybe this one will be able to be better postulated when you have this next generation where large parts of the population can almost avoid second hand smoke for their whole lives if they try hard enough.

Otherwise this one seems like suggestion may play a greater role to its frequency. How was the question asked? "Were you ever exposed to second hand smoke?" --- How about, "As a child were did your breakfast frequently include heavily sugary cereals?", or "Did you ever add Nestle Quik to your milk as a child?".

Be nice to know if it was but not sure what those that already have it could do with the info other than make sure they don't expose their kids to second hand smoke -- which they shouldn't do anyway.

Scott

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by DannyV on Jul 5^th, 2007, 7:11pm

I found that article to be VERY interesting. I meet the criteria for both examples. It certainly is quite possible though that the findings are coincidental.

By the way, YES, I smoke like a chimeny[chimney, spell?]
-In my opinion, anyone who smokes during a Cluster Headache does not have Cluster Headache.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by Patrick_A on Jul 7^th, 2007, 12:01pm

on 07/03/07 at 19:48:34, UN solved wrote:

I also tried many times, but I would end up stubbing it out after 2 or 3 draws from the ciggy.

Patrick_A

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by sandie99 on Jul 8^th, 2007, 4:00am

Welcome to clusterville, Spencer! :)

I don't smoke myself, but when I've been near people who do I've gotten hit more than once.

It's important that you will learn a lot about this beast, so that you can educate others when you'll have the chance! I'm 27 myself and I've had ch since 2001 and got diagnosis 2003. During these ch years I haven't met anyone who would know what ch is (outside medical professionals and those with clusters in the family) when I casually mention it, there's a long road to go before people understand and respect us clustersufferers.

PF wishes,
Sanna

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by horsegirl on Jul 8^th, 2007, 5:39pm

i cant smoke during a hit, never tried ,but do during shadows,and for me it sometimes makes them worse.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by Xenoz on Jul 14^th, 2007, 11:08pm

Hi Spencer,

I started getting CH's at 15, started smoking at 18, am 33 now, in the middle of a cycle now.

I had actually made the decision to quit smoking just two weeks before this cycle, and got a prescription for Chantix. However, due to other issues, I didn't start taking it. Which is a good thing because I would surely have concluded that Chantix was the trigger, as it is "brain medication".

But as to how smoking affects CH's...

I find that smoking during shadows or pain-free times of a cycle has no effect.

Smoking during the onset (pain-free to peak) of a CH can make it worse sometimes (my onset ranges from 2 - 15 minutes). Also, since this is the best time for abortive treatment (such as oxygen, which works for many of my milder CH's and daytime onset CH's), smoking during onset doesn't make any sense.

Smoking during the peak provides "something to do" - if all abortive attempts have failed, I resort to drinking large quantities of coffee and smoking, which gives both my hands something to do so they aren't tempted to rub and claw endlessly at my temple, which only makes it worse. Since I only smoke outside, I will generally have a cup of coffee and a cigarette, then pace up and down the driveway a few times, then get more coffee and have another cigarette.

Sometimes I go from peak to pain-free in a matter of minutes, but if I've had a whopper, it can take up to an hour to get to a point where I could actually rest or try to sleep. Regardless, I generally stay in "alert mode" for at least 15-20 minutes after the CH is gone to "make sure", as I have had times where I have gone back to bed immediately after a CH and woken up only minutes later with it back again! So I usually spend this time finishing off any remaining coffee and smoking a couple of butts.

I do find that prednisone makes me smoke more. I can't stand the stuff (have been on 60mg for the last 2 weeks, went down to 40 yesterday and today, and am going to taper it off regardless, as it's physically and mentally wrecking me).

The hardest part about smoking with a CH at night is lighting the cigarette - since I only smoke outside, I'm always in the dark. The flash from the lighter sears through my temple like a knife, so I have learned how to light it up with my eyes closed.

If you use oxygen, be sure never to smoke in the same room as your tank, or within 5 minutes of having used the oxygen.

So smoking, for me, has negligible effect on the pain, but it provides a distraction.

Just be sure to consume absolutely no alcohol during a cycle (I don't even use alcohol-based mouthwashes), and don't smoke any non-tobacco (ie, cloves, pot, whatever else).

However, I do believe that smoking in general may make cluster attacks more frequent or severe, and that quitting smoking may reduce frequency or severity of episodic cycles - I may be wrong, but my plan after this cycle is to quit!

Hope this helps

Xenoz

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by DennisM1045 on Jul 15^th, 2007, 8:29am

I smoked from 15 - 30. I quit when three of my kids begged me to. Haven't touched one since. My Father smoked (also suffered from CH) when I was a kid. My CH started when I was 34. I'm 46 now.

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by billyjoe on Jul 15^th, 2007, 1:23pm

I quit 5 yrs ago and was CH free untill this current cycle. I started smoking again about a year ago(Yeah, it's dumb), and here I am. Not sure if it's cause and effect, but I'm trying to quit again.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by cash5542 on Jul 16^th, 2007, 11:28pm

My daughter is 22 and is asthmatic as well as suffers with CH. She is NEVER exposed to second hand smoke because of the respitory issue. I on the other hand grew up with it. I dont get CH but have had migraines. It seems the impact of smoking on CH is questionable but it isn't with lung disease so like several people have said there's your motivation. Ever watch someone use o2 and asthma meds at the same time? It's pretty hard. Good luck making the best decision in your life!

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by rolo65 on Jul 22^nd, 2007, 9:31pm

I have found that a smoke can stop or postpone daytime attacks.

I crave a smoke after a hit always.

I agree with the statement if you can smoke during a hit, you probably don’t have CH.

I don’t see how any one can light up while there eye ball is being purified by Lonshanks. Maybe if I were to beg for his mercy, I would get a smoke before his henchmen end my pain but I’m too stubborn for that! Braveheart rocks!

PF wises all,

Roland.

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by clanger8525 on Jul 26^th, 2007, 1:38am

Here's my take on smoking and CH. For me, I am pretty sure that smoking is THE trigger.

I got my first CH at 19 and suffered very badly in my twenties and early thirties (i am now 39). I started smoking socially at 21, which eventually became a pack a day habit. I quit in my mid twenties for about a year. Then started and stopped a couple of years later. Funny thing is that I never had a cluster during my non-smoker periods.

The third time I started smoking - this time socially, i got a cluster after a few months (as soon as I got up to a couple of cigs a day). I started to see a connection, so I quit as soon as the cluster started. After the CHs finished i stayed away from cigs for a couple of years (with no CH), then fell back into the social smoking thing. Not even a month into that I got a cluster - the worst one of my life (even with ample imtrex) which kept me bedridden for 4 weeks. Obviously I have not smoked since (about 8 months CH free).

So I guess for me, there is a clear link between smoking. I have never had an attack during the times in my life when I was not smoking.

Quitting smoking may not be the answer for everyone, but if it actaully stops the CH for you, like it did for me, then it's definitely worth a try.

Hope that helps ( and saves you a few hundred bucks on cigs every year!)

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by MR_FLOOR on Jul 26^th, 2007, 2:03am

This topic has been talked about before.It seems all the responses are pretty much the same.

My CHs started at age 14 I started smoking at age 17.I personally never really tried to quit.I think a day or two at the most(I'm weak).I agree with Chris I think it sort of helps me get through a hit [smiley=twocents.gif]

Dave

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by christina on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 3:01am

Hey man! I've been suffering from CH for almost three years and I'm 27. However, I have been smoking since I was 16. Smoking, to my headaches, makes no difference. It is somehow refreshing that when I'm in the midst of The Dance, I can have a butt in between my fingers. ;;D

Title: Re: Smoking
Post by totka2 on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 3:03am

CHer 'cos of smoking or smoker 'cos of CH - it is the $ 1,000,000 question.
You are young: quit smoking and your lung will be grateful. Just my [smiley=twocents.gif]
Steve