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09 Apr, 2011 - 3:10 pm

Hi there,
sorry if this has already been outlined in the website, i have only started getting through it all, but wanted to know if this condition is genetic at all? I have two daughters and could not stand it if they were affected by this condition.... Its hard enough that they have to see me in so much pain... I would just die if they had to go through the same thing
thanks
Jo

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10 Apr, 2011 - 12:25 pm

Hi Jo
You may find some info in this forum

http://www.clusterheadaches.com.au/forum_posts.php?id=2499
I know my Mum used to have some pretty nasty headaches but I dont believe now they were CHs. I certainly have alerted my daughter to them just in case.
Are they genetic or hereditary, I really dont want to know or to find out, I think we have enough on our plates to worry about to be honest.
Just being aware of the signs and symptoms is important in your children.
You will be OK.
Cheers
Heather

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10 Apr, 2011 - 5:07 pm

Hi to all,
Just throwing some ideas around on this one...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8990601

This shows that hereditary genetic links in CH are possible, but improbable.
My research indicates that the incidence of hereditary CH is statisticaly only slightly higher than the normal prevalence of CH in the general population.
I can find much supporting documentation for and against theories on the possible incidence of hereditary CH. There seems to be as much information on the topic that is in the affirmative as the negative. I would encourage people to do their own research on this topic.

Quality of data is relevant at this point.
The most recent and accurate research should be consulted when investigating CH and its treatment. Things are moving quickly in research.

Some hereditary CH links are being investigated. Others are being confused with a confirmed hereditary genetic link associated with Migraine. For those of us lucky enough to have Migraines as well or a Migraneous component to our CH, we can all endlessly speculate as to which Great Aunt used to "Have a turn" or "Got those head pains..." I am sure we will never really know for sure in our lifetimes.

A hypothetical question to all out there:

If you could take a diagnostic test that would positively indicate that you or your child had inherited CH, what would you do with that information?

I am not trying to inflame anyone's opinion or ignite a debate on genetic testing here.
(Please don't!!!)
I am honestly at a loss as to what anyone would do with this information.
To know if your CH was hereditary or not seems useless to me?
There is no cure for CH, so it seems irrelevant to me, if you get CH, you are stuck with it.
However, if I had kids I would not want them to suffer it either like I have. (I have had CH since birth) But I would not let the potential risk of CH exclude me from the possibility of ever becoming a Father either...
But I am an ignorant 35yo single male with no kids. I have kind of a narrow logical view of these sorts of issues. There must be something I am missing here...It's a curly question to me - quite perplexing...

Apologies to Jo, I did not mean to hijack your thread!
I hope they eventually rule out CH as hereditary, it would be good news.

Cheers, Ben.

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11 Apr, 2011 - 12:51 am

Hi Ben--your hypothetical question
My thoughts are
If there was a test that could show there was a genetic or hereditary link would I want to know? Probably yes! Only to be aware and prepared.
It is like knowing what could be causing pain in a child.
Let me throw this in the hot pot for you.
Some years ago I got bitten by a red back spider. There was absolutely no sign of the bite. It was on my neck hidden under my hair. There was no redness to be seen, no swelling, no sweating--but by golly there was pain. (I only knew because I brushed the spider out of my hair) All I could think of was -- if a baby or a child was bitten and was screaming in pain there would be no way of knowing what was wrong. At least knowing the hereditary link and being able to pin point the probability of CHs in a child would be a start to helping them.
But as you say, lets hope that they rule out the link! But you raised a really good point.
To know or not to know--good question.
Cheers
Heather

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11 Apr, 2011 - 6:19 pm

HI Ben and Heather.
thanks for the information and yes, the reason i would like to know is just to be aware if they started showing symtoms, also it is good to be prepared and aware if there was the possiblilty... Being a mother, i think i just wanted the main reason is that i wanted someone to say, no, they are not genetic and then i it would be a huge relief to me... Either way i hope to god my beautiful girls never have to go through the same thing!!
thanks again guys
Jo

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