Normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for migraine and cluster headache

Abstract

Background: Migraine and cluster headaches are severe and disabling. Migraine affects up to 18% of women, while cluster headaches are much less common (0.2% of the population). A number of acute and prophylactic therapies are available. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the therapeutic administration of 100% oxygen at environmental pressures greater than one atmosphere, while normobaric oxygen therapy (NBOT) is oxygen administered at one atmosphere. Objectives: To assess the safety and effectiveness of HBOT and NBOT for treating and preventing migraine and cluster headaches. Search strategy: We searched the following in May 2008: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, DORCTIHM and reference lis..