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Home Oxygen Therapy for Cluster Headaches

The Mayo Clinic states that cluster headaches are one of the most powerful types of headache you can experience. The amount of time in which the attacks occur give them their name because the headaches strike in quick, small groups and then disappear for months at a time. The pain that accompanies the cluster headache usually is near the eye region and can be quite severe. Scientists are still looking for treatments for the condition, but one option that shows promise is home oxygen therapy.

  1. Cluster Headache Information

    • There are several different symptoms associated with a cluster headache. Among the most common are red eyes, droopy eyelids, facial swelling, and excessive sweating. Cluster headaches usually last for about 30 minutes to three hours, but it can vary from person to person. According to the Mayo Clinic, people are most likely to develop a cluster headache late at night and in the morning, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. Over the course of several weeks, typically one to 12 weeks, a person can suffer from cluster headaches, but the symptoms then disappear for several months at a time.

      The symptoms of a cluster headache are quite noticeable. If you suffer from them, it is crucial that you visit a doctor. Your physician can tell you if you have another condition or if you have cluster headaches. If you have cluster headaches, one of the treatments that may ease your pain is home oxygen therapy, says HealthWise.

    Home Oxygen Therapy

    • Oxygen therapy has been growing in popularity in recent years as an option for people to ease their cluster headache symptoms. According to Science Daily, a person has to inhale several liters of 100 percent oxygen for several minutes. Within roughly 15 to 20 minutes, the pain associated with the headache will begin to subside.

      One of the drawbacks to using home oxygen therapy is that it can be difficult for a person to reach his tank if he is not home. Some people opt to use a portable oxygen container that they can carry with them, but it can be cumbersome. Research shows that while there is great promise in oxygen therapy, it does not work for everyone and the cluster headache can come back.

      The National Headache Foundation reports that half of all people report positive improvement in their cluster headache symptoms when using home oxygen therapy. Long-term research is ongoing, but home oxygen therapy is a a treatment option that might help some sufferers of cluster headaches.

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