What Should I Avoid As a CH sufferer?
Everyone is different, and even though cluster cycles happen on a schedule - they can be induced in patients by giving nitroglycerine. This shows there are some chemical triggers ... some patients have reported gas and other emission fumes as a trigger, as well as solvents and ammonia.
During an active CH cycle many patients
find that alcohol is a sure headache trigger
... even a few sips of beer can trigger a painful bout ...
so spare yourself and don't drink at all till you know your cycle is over.
Sometimes moving or visiting a different climate, altitude, humidity zone, time-zone or latitude can set off adaptive reactions in the hypothalamus which lead to an isolated Episode or even start a CH 'cycle', but this is highly specific to the individual.
A number of other precipitating factors have been noted
in a smaller number of patients and include stress, relaxation, exposure to heat or cold, glare, hay fever attacks, and, occasionally, the ingestion of specific foods (chocolate, eggs, dairy products). There is some evidence that head trauma can precipitate the syndrome.