Migraine

Migraine is a neurological syndrome characterized by altered bodily perceptions, severe headaches, and nausea. Physiologically, the migraine headache is a neurological condition more common to women than to men. The typical migraine headache is unilateral and pulsating, lasting from 4 to 72 hours.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light, and increased sensitivity to sound. Approximately one third of people who suffer from migraine headache perceive an unusual visual, olfactory, or other sensory experiences that are a sign that the migraine will soon occur (ie. aura). The effects of migraine may persist for some days after the main headache has ended. Many sufferers report a sore feeling in the area where the migraine was, and some report impaired thinking for a few days after the headache has passed.

The cause of migraine headache is idiopathic. The accepted theory is a disorder of the serotonic control system, as PET scan has demonstrated the aura coincides with diffusion of cortical depression consequent to increased blood flow (up to 300% greater than baseline).

Hyperbaric oxygen Therapy (HBO) has been used successfully in treating migraine and is especially effective for the termination of acute migraine. The pathophysiological action of HBO in migraine is unknown. Vasoconstriction under hyperbaric oxygen may be one of the pathways for HBO action.

Improvements of migraine in patients treated with HBO because of other reasons led the way to test HBO for migraine. Observations show a termination of the headache and comined symptoms within 30 min of HBO in responding cases. Daily repeated sessions of HBO for one week seem to reduce the frequency of recurrence of migraine in a great number of patients (40%) especially if a booster treatment once a week is applied. A test treatment with HBO during an attack of migraine will show if the patient is a responder.

In case of contraindications or insufficient relief by goldstandard therapies hyperbaric oxygen is a promising alternative in absence of other reserve therapies. Triptan addicted patients have been successfully detoxicated unter protection with HBO.