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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> CH Article on The New York Times ( Today ) 
        
(Message started by: Annette on Feb 11^th, 2008, 5:08am)

Title: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by Annette on Feb 11^th, 2008, 5:08am

Interesting article on The New York Times

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/cluster-headaches/background.html

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by BarbaraD on Feb 11^th, 2008, 10:27am

"Cluster headache is a less common type of primary headache. Although it is sometimes referred to as a neurovascular headache, evidence now suggests that its cause lies in the hypothalamus, a region deep in the brain that regulates, among other functions, the biologic rhythms of the body. " NY Times 02-11-08

They're saying CH is a Primary HA now? I didn't realize that.

Interesting article Annette. Thanks for sharing it.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by monty on Feb 11^th, 2008, 10:59am

on 02/11/08 at 10:27:34, BarbaraD wrote:

"

They're saying CH is a Primary HA now? I didn't realize that.

Interesting article Annette. Thanks for sharing it.

Hugs BD

Dr. Goadsby has been arguing that CH is a primary headache, (and that it is not primarily neurovascular) for a few years, I believe.

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by brewcrew on Feb 11^th, 2008, 11:26am

Is there a precise definition of "primary headache?"

What's the big deal if it's just semantics?

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by E-Double on Feb 11^th, 2008, 11:40am

It's always been a primary headache to my knowledge.

Secondary means that it is caused by illness or someother disorder/cause.

Caffiene withdrawl headache.
___headache caused by tumor...get rid of the tumor = no more headaches.
Medicinal overuse headache
Post traumatic headache

etc.

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by sandie99 on Feb 11^th, 2008, 12:01pm

I thought that ch is already considered to be a primary headache.

Sanna

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by starlight on Feb 11^th, 2008, 12:18pm

Annette,

Thanks for the article!

What's that part though about "low verbal memory and low sexual appetite for episodics"? Do these people just make that kinda stuff up? Just askin' cause I think I can remember words and stuff....just kiddin'.

Seriously, Annette, thanks for the article. That is interesting about the placebo effect having high responsiveness rate--wish someone had tried that with me :)

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by starlight on Feb 11^th, 2008, 12:20pm

CH is considered to be a primary headache unless it occurrs as an obvious "result" of another condition like a brain tumor or someone. (which is usually DOES NOT).
Usually the headache is PRIMARY.

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by Guiseppi on Feb 11^th, 2008, 12:42pm

low verbal memory and low sexual appetite for episodics"?

They got it half right, I'm episodic and I can't remember anything!! ;;D

Guiseppi

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by otakuhouse on Feb 11^th, 2008, 12:54pm

I posit that the consternation my significant other displays in marveling at my rather excitable libidious nature whilst racked with the affliction of trigeminal neuralgia would lead this person to believe that actually us ch'ers seem to be able to remember words and get horny too.

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by Guiseppi on Feb 11^th, 2008, 1:04pm

[smiley=bow.gif]

Umm...what he said........

Guiseppi

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by E-Double on Feb 11^th, 2008, 1:08pm

on 02/11/08 at 12:54:34, otakuhouse wrote:

;;D
me too

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by George_J on Feb 11^th, 2008, 2:07pm

on 02/11/08 at 12:18:38, starlight wrote:

What's that part though about "low verbal memory and low sexual appetite for episodics"?

Well--I'd have to say...during a hit, maybe. The rest of the time, not so much.

on 02/11/08 at 12:18:38, starlight wrote:

Do these people just make that kinda stuff up?

Probably.

"Big hat, no cows."

Best,

George

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by brewcrew on Feb 11^th, 2008, 2:10pm

on 02/11/08 at 12:18:38, starlight wrote:

What's that part though about "low verbal memory and low sexual appetite for episodics"?

One word: Verapamil.

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by Annette on Feb 11^th, 2008, 2:57pm

I think its more likely that during the cycle, orgasm can be a trigger for some and therefore avoided, leading to the (wrong ) observation that one has low sexual appetite?

My guess. 8)

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by starlight on Feb 11^th, 2008, 3:18pm

I would say I actually agree with the verbal memory part--I can't remember titles of books, movies, authors, things "normal" people tend to remember--it's like my mind goes blank pretty much all the time with those kinds of things. Like if someone says "what book are you reading?" My answer--um, um, it's something like, ah, I can't remember." Who wrote it? "um, um, um...can't remember". And that's all the time in or out of cycle.

With the other thing, I'd say no that's not true.

2 interesting things from New York Times article:
That many who have a first cycle never have another.
That the disorder eventually ends.

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by Annette on Feb 11^th, 2008, 4:37pm

Here is an article on verbal memory

Neurology 1999;53:543
© 1999 American Academy of Neurology

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Articles

Cluster headaches

Association with anxiety disorders and memory deficits

Ricardo E. Jorge, MD, Jorge E. Leston, MD, Stephan Arndt, PhD and Robert G. Robinson, MD
From the Department of Psychiatry (Drs. Jorge, Arndt, and Robinson), University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA; and the Department of Neurology (Dr. Leston), Hospital de Clinicas, Buenos Aires University, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Ricardo E. Jorge, Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, 2887 JPP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242-1057.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency of mood and anxiety disorders and to assess memory and executive functions among a representative group of patients with episodic cluster headache (ECH) during the course of an acute episode.

METHODS: We compared 21 patients with ECH with 21 patients with tension headache (TH) matched for age, sex, and educational level. Psychiatric diagnosis was made by a semi-structured interview and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV) criteria. Quantitative measures of depression and anxiety were obtained using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). In addition, all patients received a neuropsychological evaluation to assess basic memory and executive functions.

RESULTS: Of the 21 patients with ECH, 5 (24%) met DSM-IV criteria for an anxiety disorder during the year before the episode. Panic disorder was diagnosed in two patients (10%). The remaining three patients (14%) met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder. Of the 21 patients with TH, 2 (10%) met diagnostic criteria for an adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and 1 (5%) met criteria for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. HARS scores were higher among patients with ECH (Kruskal-Wallis, 2 = 4.3, df = 1, p = 0.03). ECH patients also showed significantly lower Auditory Verbal Learning Test scores (Kruskal-Wallis, 2 = 6.5, df = 1, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: When compared with a group of patients with TH, ECH patients showed a higher frequency of anxiety disorders during the year before the onset of headaches and significantly greater HARS scores during the episode. In addition, patients with ECH were selectively impaired in verbal memory.

This is the link to the whole thing

http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/3/543

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by Racer1_NC on Feb 11^th, 2008, 5:23pm

on 02/11/08 at 15:18:37, starlight wrote:

I have to say this has been my experience too. I wasn't that way before CH.

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by starlight on Feb 11^th, 2008, 5:45pm

That is interesting--I checked out the DSM-IV criteria for anxiety--one item is "mind going blank"--wonder is verbal memory loss tied to anxiety? Never thought of that but it makes sense--my mind goes blank sometimes when I try to strike up a conversation--I know what I want to say but can't figure out how to put the words together--it is totally the feeling of my mind going blank. Other than that I talk people's ears off. Go figure.

I would say honestly that I started having anxiety when I was 11. Headaches came at 14. Damn.

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by Melissa on Feb 11^th, 2008, 5:50pm

I definately have low verbal memory. :(

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by Annette on Feb 11^th, 2008, 7:02pm

on 02/11/08 at 15:18:37, starlight wrote:

2 interesting things from New York Times article:
That many who have a first cycle never have another.
That the disorder eventually ends.

Yes Star , very interesting indeed. I previously posted a link to a follow up study which showed some people only had 1 episode of CH, for up to 9 years.

As to the disorder eventually ends, we have seen it here. Some people like DonnaH suddenly stopped having CH. The problem is we dont yet know what starts and stops them, otherwise we may actually have a "cure" for real.

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by BarbaraD on Feb 12^th, 2008, 11:43am

"Cure" -- I love that word.... Being chronic it sounds like heaven to me.... One can only hope....

Hugs BD

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by otakuhouse on Feb 12^th, 2008, 5:47pm

I mean this with all sensitivity...

Orgasm is really a trigger for some?

I was told that orgasm and its relation to serotonin would be helpful and have seen literature here and there that suggest the same.

I sometimes find with shadows and low intensity CHs that an orgasm helps; reminding me that my body is capable of not just pain.

New research shows that orgasm shuts down a part of the brain behind the left eye, as well (where i get mine). Who knows if its related...

But if it's associated generally as a trigger, i wonder if I should abstain.

I also, ahem, don't find problems with verapamil and all that.

But I do have to say upon thinking about it that I have (and have been tested for clinically) a photographic memory. But my entire life my verbal, spoken memory and comprehension is far less acute than my visual memory or communication as printed words.

I find the pain of cluster headaches such that it prevents me from doing things precisely.

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by Annette on Feb 12^th, 2008, 5:57pm

on 02/12/08 at 17:47:44, otakuhouse wrote:

Yes, for some orgasm is a definite trigger.

However, a few have reported that ejaculation ( orgasm ) either from masturbation or intercourse at the onset of a headache, before the pain starts, may abort the impending hit.

If I recall correctly, these incidents have only been reported by male CHers. I do not know if female CHers have the same experience.

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by Batch on Feb 12^th, 2008, 11:25pm

Hmmm... Try a little Ginko Billoba... That way if you get some nookie... you'll remember the next morning ::)

Title: Re: CH Article on The New York Times ( Today )
Post by Pinkfloyd on Feb 12^th, 2008, 11:58pm

on 02/12/08 at 17:47:44, otakuhouse wrote:

I was told that orgasm and its relation to serotonin would be helpful and have seen literature here and there that suggest the same.

I sometimes find with shadows and low intensity CHs that an orgasm helps; reminding me that my body is capable of not just pain.

New research shows that orgasm shuts down a part of the brain behind the left eye, as well (where i get mine). Who knows if its related...

But if it's associated generally as a trigger, i wonder if I should abstain.

No, you shouldn't abstain unless you are one of the very rare ones that this might be a trigger.
You're correct in that it's much more likely to abort (especially shadows) than trigger.

For the most part, headaches triggered by orgasms are a specific type of headache, not related to clusters.
Benign Coital Headache or Coital Cephalgia or Exertion Headaches are more closely related to migraines and people that get this type of exertion headache, especially, should be tested with MRIs and MRAs to rule out any underlying medical condition.

If running up a hill in the summer or weightlifting triggers a cluster for you, it's possible intercourse may also, but again, its more commonly related to headaches other than clusters.

Carry on my wayward son!!!
Bobw