Transformed Migraine
It usually start as migraine in the teenage years and as the time passes, the migraine attacks become more frequent until they reach a stage of daily or near daily headache. From a doctors point of view, diagnosing this condition is difficult and a detailed history from the patient is important as the patient may suffer from a mixture of a number of different headaches as well as migraine.Analgesic rebound headache
The over-use of pain medication (analgesics or ergotamines particularly) is one of the most common reasons for the onset of CDH. Sufferers often have a past history of headache/ migraine that becomes more frequent or severe over time, leading to an increase in the amount of medication they take. This over-use can cause a type of CDH known as Analgesic Rebound Headache. As the body gets accustomed to medication, it craves for more. When the medication wears off, a headache is triggered, which causes the person pain and leads him/her to take more medication. This leads to a vicious circle of taking medication to get rid of a headache that is itself caused by taking medication. Withdrawal may result in worsening headaches, nausea and anxiety for 1-2 weeks, but it is the only cure.Cluster headcahe
Cluster headache is a rare disorder, with more men suffering than women, in a ratio of 5:1. Apart from the patient's history there are no diagnostic tools for cluster headache.The exact cause of it is unknown although links are made with vascular, autonomic, hormonal and metabolic changes within our bodies.
Attacks consist of a severe stabbing pain that usually lasts between 15 minutes and two hours and affect one side of the head, usually around the eye. Cluster headaches can occur several times per day. Unfortunately, once one attack ceases another may begin later that same day. Characteristically, they come in clusters which can last weeks or months. After each cluster, they can disappear for months or even years.
Some peoples attacks seem to be linked to changes in day length, and may also be triggered (during clusters only) by alcohol, tobacco, histamine, stress or exposure to nitroglycerine.
Pure oxygen is one of the recommended treatments for Cluster headache.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.migraine.ie/)
