Early diagnosis is best…the longer it is delayed, the more depression and anxiety increase.
Posted on 20/12/2023 at 07:05 Views 9 Posted on 20/12/2023 at 07:05 Modified 19/12/2023 17:31 Views 9
“iShoSpeed” (Darren Jason Watkins Jr., 19), a top YouTuber with 22 million subscribers, was diagnosed with “cluster headaches” last summer. [사진=유튜브 채널 @IShowSpeed_Korea]Ishospeed (Darren Jason Watkins Jr., 18), a top YouTuber with 22 million subscribers, was taken to the emergency room last summer after suddenly complaining of a severe headache. The diagnosis he received upon arrival at the hospital was “cluster headache,” an illness that was unknown to him even in his name.
Cluster headache is a disease in which “extreme headaches” appear periodically, accompanied by autonomic symptoms such as conjunctival injection and nasal congestion. This disease is accompanied by a short, intense attack of headache lasting about 10 minutes. Patients have been reported to react to this by saying things like “experiencing hell” and “it would be better to die”.
At the time, iShowSpeed also had such a bad headache that he released a live statement on social media (SNS) similar to the contents of his suicide note, saying, “Even if I do something wrong, I love all my fan,” raising concerns among fans. After arriving at the hospital, he explained the painful situation at the time, saying: “My eyes were swollen to the point of bursting, and it hurt like someone was stabbing my eyes with a knife.”
Fortunately, Isho Speed managed to recover after receiving treatment in the hospital, was discharged from the hospital, and now continues his activities such as streaming on YouTube as before.
There are many male patients and it is characterized by a sudden onset… Sometimes mistaken for a cold
The prevalence of cluster headache is rare, approximately 100-400 per 100,000 people. Male patients represent 90% of the total and headache attacks usually appear in the late 20s and persist until around 40 years of age.
This disease is characterized by its sudden onset. Symptoms such as stuffy nose and runny nose may appear and may be suspected as an early cold. The biggest difference from other headaches is that the pain comes in waves. The same symptoms may appear every day for several weeks and then disappear completely for several weeks.
The exact cause of this disease is not yet known, but like migraines, it is known to be related to the relaxation of blood vessels by the neurotransmitter serotonin, damage to sympathetic nerves, alcohol, and stress.
Cluster headache is itself rare, and doctors often don’t know much about this disease, so they often misdiagnose it as a disease like migraine. In fact, according to the Korea Headache Society, it takes an average of 5.7 years from onset to diagnosis, with some cases taking up to 36 years. At this time, the longer the delay in diagnosis, the greater the patients’ anxiety and depression and the number of suicidal thoughts, so early diagnosis and treatment are very important.
How to treat the rare disease “cluster headache”… Drug treatment and oxygen treatment
The treatment of cluster headache is divided into two types: prevention and acute treatment. First of all, preventive treatment involves the administration of drugs orally. It is a drug containing beta-famil or lithium and has few side effects, but has the disadvantage of requiring a dose adjustment period and taking several weeks to see effects.
Secondly, there is steroid treatment. Take oral steroids for 5 days, then reduce the amount every 3 days. It is effective and inexpensive, but has side effects such as acne, weight gain and insomnia. There is also a method of administering steroids directly via injection. Although the duration of the effect is shorter than when taken directly, it is effective quickly and has fewer side effects.
Acute treatment includes oxygen therapy. It is famous for its proven effectiveness by sitting and inhaling 100% oxygen using a medical oxygen tank. It has the advantage of having no side effects, but has the disadvantage of being expensive as it is not covered and is difficult to transport.
Additionally, there are methods such as taking an oral migraine medication called triptan (Zomic tablet) or spraying lidocaine (local anesthetic) spray deep into the nasal cavity.
Journalist Lim Jong-eon
eoni@kormedi.com
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#extreme #pain #million #YouTubers #cry.. #misinterpreted #cold
