Oxygen Provides Headache Relief

Ivanhoe Newswire
Wednesday, July 16, 2008; 4:15 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- For the millions of people who suffer from severe headaches, relief may be in the air.

A review of nine studies involving 201 participants suggests migraine sufferers may find relief from hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or inhaling pure oxygen at high pressure in a special chamber. The review also demonstrates those suffering from cluster headaches may benefit from normobaric oxygen therapy, or inhaling pure oxygen at normal room pressure. However, experts say these findings may not find practical applications.

"We believe that hyperbaric oxygen is also a reasonable measure for migraineurs who have not responded to other measures to treat an acute attack," head reviewer Michael Bennett, director of the Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, Australia, was quoted as saying. "However, the poor availability of hyperbaric chambers makes this an option only in a minority of health facilities. Most physicians treating headaches will continue to rely on established and emerging pharmacological options for treating and preventing acute attacks."

Three studies reported a number of patients who found significant migraine relief within 40 to 45 minutes of hyperbaric therapy. Two studies reported a significantly higher number of patients had relief from cluster headaches after 15 minutes of normobaric therapy compared to control groups.

SOURCE: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 3

If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Lindsay Braun at lbraun@ivanhoe.com.