am i causing my clusterheadaches?

how big of a role does smoking, stress and irregular sleep patter ( do to work) have on cluster cycles?  i've suffered for eight years with these headaches and it doesn't seem as if things are going to get any better.  i am so worried i am going to stroke out from the pain..

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

'Nicotine may trigger cluster headaches, and the affliction is often found in people with a heavy addiction to cigarette smoking. Some sufferers report that quitting smoking has brought about an end to their cluster headaches.'

'Nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate) can sometimes induce cluster headaches in sufferers in a manner similar to spontaneous attacks. Ingestion of alcohol or chocolate is recognized as a common trigger of cluster headaches when a person is in cycle or susceptible.

Exposure to hydrocarbons (petroleum solvents, perfume) is also recognized as a trigger for cluster headaches. Some patients have a decreased tolerance to heat, and becoming overheated may act as a trigger. Napping causes a headache for some sufferers, while for others lack of sleep triggers them. The role of diet and specific foods in triggering cluster headaches is controversial and not well understood.'

So, you could try and correct the factors you mention, and see how you do benefit from it.

Let us know if you need any other information.

You could read more about this at the following link -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headache

Regards.

[ggreg]

Ditto on the cigarettes.  Too many, one right after the other, will give a person a headache.  One way to counteract that is Vitamin C.  Cigarettes eat up C in a person, so a swig of orange juice at snack time and meals will help counteract that (just don't drink a lot of juice).  

Also, stress tension settles in the shoulders and neck.  Reach up and squeeze your shoulders and see do they feel "hard."  One time I got so knotted up that I went to my first massage appointment.  I cannot tell you what a relief that gave to me, had to return for a second session right away, to finish the job.  

Another thing to check out, concerning sleep is, the wrong pillows can give you a headache.  I use a big solid foam one, you can buy them in high-end department stores (not the crushed foam kind).  Also, for real cheap, you can get these mattress foam pads, they look like egg crates, and they soften your bed, just put the bottom sheet right over it.  Do not eat chocolate or drink caffeine drinks after 5 p.m.  And as you wind down for bedtime, smoke less, eat less, drink less sodas.  

As for work stress, there are two ways to deal with that.  One is exercise after work, and the other is if your mind is rolling around and around with events of the day, you can jot down what is upsetting to you, and just getting it out on paper is a big relief.  Hope some of these tips help.