Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Oxygen and Water - I've had a thought.
        
(Message started by: jonbob on May 9^th, 2004, 6:23pm)

Title: Oxygen and Water - I've had a thought.
Post by jonbob on May 9^th, 2004, 6:23pm

Hi Guys,

I've read a couple of times that ice-cubes and cold air (aircon) can help to reduce the length of the CH.

I've got an idea about this - feel free to shoot me down if you've heard it before.

OK. Firstly O2. If the bloodflow becomes saturated with oxygen, then doesn't the heart-rate slow down because the supply of oxygen becomes more eficient? If this is the case then, the pressure associated with CH also lessens as the heart doesn't have to pump as much blood around the body.

I'm guessing that this makes sense so far, so on to the next part of my 'tin-pot' theory. The 'water-treatment'. When the body experiences cold, isn't one of the main effects that the heart-rate slows down? Again this would seem to explain why ingesting large amounts of ice-cold water can have an effect on the CH time period. The main difference between drinking cold water and holding a cold compress to the effected area is that by drinking cold fluid, you are more likely to effect the body's overall temperature. Whereas just holding ice to the pain will not.

I admit that the link is a bit shakey, but if these 2 points are accurate, is there anything which could be prescribed that may have the same effect.

P.S. Sorry about the grammar, but I started getting excited.

P.P.S The water treatment does appear to be making a difference - more abortive than preventative though.

Title: Re: Oxygen and Water - I've had a thought.
Post by AlienSpaceGuy on May 9^th, 2004, 11:37pm

Hi jonbob,

I'am afraid to say, but I think you're over-simplify things a bit.
Blood circulation does not only transport oxygen, but also distributes fuel (sugar) and collects waste products, like carbon dioxide CO₂ and uric acid. Therefore, heart rate cannot only depend on oxygen saturation. I think (and somebody correct me if I'm wrong) the main parameter controlling heart rate is the CO₂ concentration in the blood.
Oxygen-rich blood causes the arteries supplying the brain to get narrower, to keep the amount of oxygen the brain receives at a constant rate. This narrowing of the artery near the trigeminal nerve is what benefits a clusterhead.

If we feel cold the first action of the body is to reduce peripheral blood flow to reduce heat loss. If that isn't enough the next step is to increase metabolism, burning sugar just to get additional heat. This would rather cause an increased blood flow, not a decrease.

Some clusterheads get relieve from drinking cold water and/or putting a bag of frozen peas on the head. I don't know how this works, but probably not by decreasing the pulse rate.

PFNAD,
ASG

Title: Re: Oxygen and Water - I've had a thought.
Post by mynm156 on May 9^th, 2004, 11:58pm

Hi Guys

our bodies breathe and pretty much function around our need to have or get rid of CO2. So yeah thats not right and also a change in our core temp down at first would increase our heart rate, then after prolonged period of time would slow down.

Title: Re: Oxygen and Water - I've had a thought.
Post by jonbob on May 10^th, 2004, 4:07am

Thanks guys, can't help but be dissappointed.

Worth a shot though.