Nitrates in food and alcohol are known CH triggers in some
sufferers.

My  :question is. Do nitrates or alcohol trigger a cycle of CH's
or only trigger an attack when your in a cycle.

Hoppy.

For me, nitrates are only an issue when in cycle.  I do not drink alcohol so I can't speak to that.  Makes me glad that my two months cluster-free are July and August so that I can enjoy hot dogs and baseball lol

Haven't pegged nitrates as a trigger, but alcohol a definite trigger. Alcohol will trigger an attack in cycle, but will NOT start a cycle.....(Thank God for small favors!!!) :D

Joe

Alcohol in my case, will not trigger an attack when NOT in cycle, when in cycle...it will trigger it. One glass of ANYTHING will trigger it in 10-15 minutes :/ those have been the only CH I have ever had being awake. So no alcohol for me! Mine are mostly at night, about 1-2 hours after I go to sleep

No obvious link with either to my CHs (or migraines), so I'm one of the lucky ones who can still enjoy a good beer or single malt.

I'm chronic, so I guess I'm technically always "in cycle". It's hit or miss as to whether either trigger a hit. I've had a 6 oz. glass of wine trigger a hit, and other times had a few glasses and nothing. I think it also depends on the type of wine, whether I was dehydrated, etc.

When not in cycle, I can drink alcohol just fine. As for it being a trigger while in cycle, I don't have a clue. I've just taken everyone's word for it here on CH.com. Not sure I have the balls to "test" it out, to be honest.  :o

I usually end up waiting a decent amount of time after my last attack of the cycle before I even think about a frosty beverage of the alcoholic persuasion.

Hi All,
Thanks for your replies. It looks like we are all on the same
page here, myself included. All but one lucky bugger. [smiley=wave.gif]

Hoppy.