Posted by John M (139.134.23.10) on August 10, 1999 at 12:12:07:
On Monday August 9, Radio National in Sydney Australia discussed, in its Health Report, CH!!!!! They spoke on-line to a Dr Peter Goadsby, Professor of Clinical Neurology, University College, London & Head of london Institute of Neurology. Extremely interesting (but far too brief) information has just emerged from his research team on CH. This man & his team are CH experts! Summary of transcript of his comments was:
* "probably THE worst pain that humans experience"
* seem to peak around the equinoxes (change between summer and autumn & between winter and spring)
* still don't know WHAT the initial problem is
* but can now confirm WHERE the problem is
* abnormality in the area of the brain known as the hypothalamus of CH sufferers
* area involved in secadian rythm - controls body rythm - the master pacemaker of the human body which also controls body cycles of months and years
* subtle structural differences (increase)in the size of cells/neurons in the hypothalamus area of CH sufferers versus non-sufferers - not sure if there is a greater density of cells/neurons or if there is a problem with the cells/neurons
* there appears to be a structural problem of the CH sufferer's brain
* greatest finding of this research is that they now know that X marks the spot, rather than looking for a needle in a haystack
* microscopic/pathological study of those neurons is next on the agenda
* THE CH PROBLEM IS ONE OF BRAIN FUNCTION - NOT ONE OF BLOOD VESSELS (VASCULAR) - HE IS CALLING FOR A RADICAL RE-APPRAISAL OF ALL PRIMARY HEADACHES (of which CH is one)
* believes that one of the most cherished beliefs of the medical profession is incorrect - that primary headaches are vascular based
* also studying families of CH sufferers for fundamental traits that may be common between Ch sufferers
ARE THERE ANY LONDON BASED SUFFERERS OUT THERE WHO CAN TRY TO CONTACT DR GOADSBY (I believe the spelling is right) FOR INFORMATION/HELP/ADVICE/ANYTHING, or simply suggest to him to log-in to this site???
We all need him.