Thirty-two cases of vascular headache treated by acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal decoction.
(9/26)
OBJECTIVE: To compare the acupuncture plus oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction with simple oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction in the treatment of vascular headache. METHODS: Sixty two patients were randomly divided into a treatment group (32 cases) and a control group (30 cases). Acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Shuaigu (GB 8), Xingjian (LR 2), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Ashi points combined with oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction, was applied in the treatment group, and simple oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction was applied in the control group. RESULTS: The total therapeutic effect in the treatment group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the frequency, and duration of the attacks were reduced and shortened, and headache greatly alleviated in both groups (P < 0.01). The alleviation in the treatment group was more obvious than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction provided remarkable therapeutic effects in treating vascular headache. (+info)
Post-endarterectomy headache and the role of the oculosympathetic system.
(10/26)
A study was carried out on headache after carotid endarterectomy. A specific type of headache, similar in its characteristics to "cluster headache", occurred on the operative side in 30% of 54 patients, whereas no such headache occurred after extra-intracranial bypass or peripheral vascular surgery. This postoperative headache was not spontaneously reported by 56% of patients unless they were specifically asked about it. Pharmacological pupillary testing performed in 37 patients revealed that a decreased oculosympathetic activity (with or without adrenoceptor supersensitivity) was constantly associated with post-endarterectomy headache. Although this same abnormality was also observed in 54% of the patients without headache, a statistically significant (p less than 0.01) higher prevalence of decreased oculosympathetic responses was found in the patients with headache. The results suggest that damage to the sympathetic plexus due to the surgical procedure is involved in the development of postoperative "cluster-like" headache. (+info)
Neurologic aspects of chronic facial pain.
(11/26)
Chronic facial pain can result from neuropathic changes associated with deafferentation. The pattern of deep afferent convergence on trigeminal cells may also relate to the pathophysiology of chronic facial pain disorders. (+info)
Limb pain in migraine and cluster headache.
(12/26)
Upper limb pain occurred in close temporal association with attacks of migraine, cluster headache and cluster-migraine in 22 cases. Seven had also lower limb pain. Limb pain was usually ipsilateral to the headache but could alternate sides and behaved like other accepted migraine accompaniments. It was always ipsilateral to the associated paraesthesiae/numbness (9 cases) and weakness (6 cases). The distribution and restricted localisations of limb pain were similar to those of the sensory symptoms and could not be accounted for by primary dysfunction of the peripheral or autonomic nervous systems. A central origin for limb pain is postulated. A temporary dysfunction in the somatosensory cortex, and/or its thalamic connections, during migraine or cluster headache attacks, might mediate such pain in a number of patients. (+info)
Behavioral management of exercise training in vascular headache patients: an investigation of exercise adherence and headache activity.
(13/26)
A behavioral package was used to shape and maintain the adherence of 5 subjects with vascular headache to a program of aerobic exercise training. Repeated measures of exercise behavior were examined through the use of a bidirectional changing criterion design. Repeated measures of headache activity were also collected. Results demonstrated a functional relationship between the behavioral package and exercise adherence, because all 5 subjects showed exercise behavior that matched bidirectional changing exercise criteria. The results also indicated clinically significant collateral reductions in vascular headache activity in 4 subjects. Subjects whose aerobic fitness levels were not masked by vasoactive medication also showed measurable increases in aerobic fitness. The results are discussed in terms of the methodology used to demonstrate a functional relationship between the adherence package and exercise behavior and the possible mechanism(s) by which aerobic exercise activity might affect vascular headache activity. (+info)
Circadian secretion of cortisol and melatonin in cluster headache during active cluster periods and remission.
(14/26)
The cyclic nature of cluster headache warranted a study of the 24-hour rhythms of serum cortisol and melatonin. They were both altered during cluster periods as compared with periods of remission and healthy controls. The 24-hour mean and maximal cortisol levels were higher and the timing of the cortisol minimum was delayed as compared to the same patients in remission. Although there was no relation between the cortisol and melatonin levels and headaches, the rise of cortisol following many attacks might in part represent an adaptive response to pain. The nocturnal melatonin maximum was lower during cluster periods than in remission. This finding, and the dysautonomic signs during attacks, may reflect a change of the vegetative tone in a hyposympathetic direction. (+info)
Cluster headache: trial of a combined histamine H1 and H2 antagonist treatment.
(15/26)
Fifteen patients with symptomatic cluster headache participated in a double-blind crossover trial of a combined histamine H1 and H2 antagonist treatment. The trial lasted six weeks. There was no significant improvement on active treatment as regards mean number of headache attacks per week, intensity, or duration of attacks. These results suggest that histamine does not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of cluster headache. (+info)
Endocrinological responses in cluster headache.
(16/26)
Growth hormone and prolactin levels and their response to various stimuli were studied in patients with cluster headache. All the endocrine responses evaluated were normal. (+info)