Posted by DocGreg on January 18, 1999 at 20:20:59:
In Reply to: Please please help answer my questions ! posted by Loretta on January 18, 1999 at 10:11:43:
Food preservatives CAN be a trigger for cluster headaches...but especially those containing nitrates. These are usually found in foods like hot dogs and cold cuts. He should try to eliminate these to see if it helps.
Alcohol triggers a headache in 50% of people who suffer from cluster headaches...even just a sip.
Nicotine has been debated on this site a number of times, but I feel there is a strong connection.
Caffeine can be used to treat cluster headaches (i.e. caffergot), but longstanding use of caffeine can also cause headaches which can then be a trigger for clusters. Better just to avoid it unless being used to treat.
That blood pressure is way too high...period. It doesn't matter if it is a trigger or not. Get it treated.
Blood pressure can be linked to headaches...and a large majority of medications that are used to treat cluster headaches and migraines also lower blood pressure. So...it can only help to treat it.
Imitrex is in a class of triptans. These drugs act like serotonin, though they only work at certain seroronin sites. They cause constriction of the vessels in the brain, as well as reduce the secretion of a chemical called substance P (often associated with pain). They are used only for the treatment of the acute attack. Long term use has not yet been well studied, and I expect the studies would demonstrate a developement of tolerance...so better to save them for the acute attack.