hi well i was just wandering how much truth was in this .............today i was given a 'information leaflet' on cluster headaches ,(from a ch specialist )  and the very first paragraph reads ..that cluster headaches are commonly linked to people who smoke ? , then at the bottom of the page in very small lettering it says ' unfourtantly giving up smoking does not stop cluster headaches '  ?  im a bit confused by this and im handing this information leaflet to work soon , so i was wandering , how many people smoke or have smoked who suffer from this ? is it really a smoking related illness or is it another way the nhs are trying to scare you into quitting ? , i have found no relevance to my smoking affecting my headaches . is there anyone out there who has never smoked but still gets these ch's ?   

48% of those who have taken the Cluster survey on this board said they don't smoke.

Don

wow thats quite interesting

The theory of smoking as it relates to CH's may have some validity in terms of vasodilation and vasoconstriction.

It is a known trigger for some, even 2nd hand smoke.

However, as noted, almost 1/2 of all sufferers polled do not smoke. 

In my opinion, there is still plenty of research needed on this subject, but to conclude such an inaccurate statement by a so-called CH Specialist distributing this leaflet makes me question if this doctor is truly a CH Specialist. ::)

Ya I heard all that about smoking before. Coincidence that "most CH'ers have had some history of smoking"? Note there are plenty of CH sufferers out there that never smoked. I think it is a useless statistic, could be said about any disease in any population.

When you have a disorder for which there is limited understanding re. causes/processes/etc., the tendency is for dated, mushy thinking to hang around.

The smoking idea has been around for decades and likely fits into the category of: Cluster folks have a distinctive facial complexion.

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Linked

My theory is that they are linked - the hypothalmic deformity that causes CH also causes addictive tendencies such as smoking.  So, smoking doesn't cause CH, CH causes smoking.

Who put out the leaflet? Maybe you can share a copy with OUCH so we can get them additional info.

hi
i have suffered with CH for 16 years i quit smoking two years ago and i still get CH but the gap in between bouts has increased relative or not who knows  ;D ;D

As  far as I'm aware there is no connection with smoking and cluster headache or any of the other TAC's. Both Prof. PG and Dr Manjit Matharu  (Senior Lecturer at The Institute of Neurology and Honorary Consultant Neurologist at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen square, London, UK; he is clinical lead of the Headache Group at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery) actively discourage sufferers from smoking because of the problems it can cause – hardening of the arteries and heart problems – thus limiting the medication they can prescribe. Imigran and Verapamil – to name but two – are both contra indicated with heart and circulatory problems.

It would be helpful to know the title of the leaflet and who produced it. Perhaps I could then find out more from Dr Matharu and Dr Tyagi next weekend.

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It would be helpful to know the title of the leaflet and who produced it.

::) I take it - That's a NO then.

Yeah I unfortunetly smoke but I've been cutting back a real lot lately thanks to my cluster headaches the one thing I can thank them for!!!