Posted by Anne (143.52.39.178) on January 23, 2001 at 09:00:18:
In Reply to: Sleep Apnea posted by Joe S on January 22, 2001 at 22:09:45:
As we know, different things work for different people. A while ago I was in contact with an ex chronic CH sufferer who was cured when he started to use a cpap machine to treat his CH - he had been advised to try this by his neurologist, who himself had had success treating his own CH with cpap. It was interesting that this person had multiple Ch attacks daily, including during the day as well as when asleep.
The following published papers and abstracts all suggest a relationship; some also document improvement or resolution of cluster headache when concurrent sleep apnea is treated.
Kudrow,L.; McGinty,D.J.; Phillips,E.R.; Stevenson,M. Sleep apnea in
cluster headache. Cephalalgia 1984;4:33-38.
Buckle,P.; Kerr,P.; Kryger,M.Nocturnal cluster headache associated with
sleep apnea. A case report. Sleep 1993;16:487-489.
Nath S, Chervin RD: Improvement in cluster headache
after treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Res 1997;26:576.
(one patient described)
Nath ST, Hall JM, Sharma N, Chervin RD: Improvement in
cluster headaches with treatment for sleep apnea. Sleep
1998;21(suppl):168. (similar title as above, but different patients)
Nath ST, Hall JM, Sharma N, Chervin RD: Timing of cluster headaches
and association with symptoms of sleep apnea. Sleep
1998;21(suppl):168.