What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study to investigate the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen treatment for active cluster headaches.
What They Found
Sixteen patients, including 12 with episodic and four with chronic cluster headache, received two 70-minute treatments at 2.5 ATA, 24 hours apart, with either 100% oxygen or a 10% oxygen placebo. The study found no significant difference between hyperbaric oxygen and placebo in reducing headache attacks or severity. However, 83% of episodic cluster headache patients and 25% of chronic patients responded to either treatment with at least a 50% reduction in headache index or remission.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The study involved a small number of participants, especially those with chronic cluster headache, which limits the generalizability of the findings.