Category: Migraine Relief

Riboflavin Migraine Prevention

Riboflavin migraine treatment is relatively inexpensive when compared to prescription migraine medication. Riboflavin migraine cure is proven safe with minimal side effect. This makes Vitamin B2 a good alternative for migraineurs, especially those who can’t tolerate the side effects of prescription migraine drugs.

Clinical studies of vitamin B2 or riboflavin, as a migraine treatment have pointed toward the efficacy of the riboflavinin migraine prevention. Riboflavin appears to have little effect on the length of a migraine attack, but it can reduce the severity of a migraine attack and appears to have a significant impact on reducing migraine frequency in most studies. One trial found that a riboflavin migraine dosage of 400 mg daily for three months reduced migraine days by half. Another study indicated that a dose as low as 25 mg may have similar efficacy.

Riboflavin, combined with beta-blockers (e.g. Metoprolol, bisoprolol) may be an effective riboflavin migraine prophylaxis. A study published in the journal Headache found that both treatments have similar levels of efficacy but work through different physiological mechanisms, and combining the two may result in better migraine prevention.

Researchers have also found that riboflavin isbest used as an adjunct, or companion, therapy to other migraine treatments. It is largely safe, inexpensive, and apparently effective with few side effects.

How Riboflavin Migraine Cure Works

Riboflavin provides migraine relief by regulating cellular metabolism and increase energy production in the mitochondria of the cells. It has been theorized that migraineurs may have reduced energy activity within the mitochondria of the cerebral blood vessels, and this could be why riboflavin works as a migraine therapy.

Dietary sources of riboflavin include milk and dairy products, eggs, cereals, meats, and dark green vegetables. Riboflavin is light sensitive, and the riboflavin content of these foods quickly degrades with prolonged exposure to light. Milk in a cardboard container may retain riboflavin better than milk in a glass bottle.

Riboflavin deficiency is uncommon, and is usually a result of a diet that is inadequate in these riboflavin-rich foods.However, it can also be caused by certain gastrointestinal disorders and liver disease. Riboflavin deficiency rarely occurs on its own. It is usually linked to other B-vitamin deficiencies.

Riboflavin Migraine Treatment – Side Effects

Side effects of riboflavin supplementation include upset stomach, diarrhea, and flavinuria – or dark yellow urine. Flavinuria is a harmless side effect. Some people may experience an allergic reaction to riboflavin supplementation, indicated by a skin rash, breathing problems or swelling.

Riboflavin can interfere with the efficacy of certain antibiotics and sulfa drugs. Inform your doctor if you are prescribed these medications while taking riboflavin supplementation. You may wish to suspend your riboflavin supplementation temporarily.

Sep 14, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Acupuncture For Migraines And Headaches

Acupuncture for migraines, coupled with the migraine drug rizatriptan produces better outcomes than merely taking rizatriptan alone. In another study, migraineurs who underwent twelve sessions of acupuncture over a three-month period found that the therapy resulted in twenty-two fewer headache days per year.

Acupuncture for migraines side effects is negligible if itis performed by an experienced, licensed acupuncturist. The procedure is extremely safe, making acupuncture for migraines during pregnancy, as well as acupuncture for migraines in children safe, depending on the age and symptoms in the child. The only side effect may be a slight burning sensation at the site of needle entry.

The needles used are disposable and the skin is swabbed with disinfectant prior to puncture, so the risk of infection is very slim. Needles are inserted just under the skin, so bleeding is minimal. The goal of acupuncture is to harmonize the energy flow within the body. The insertion of acupuncture needles stimulates an increase in pain-killing endorphins and serotonin levels in the blood and brain. Acupoints for migraine treatment will vary by patient and symptoms but are usually located on the ears, face, forehead, neck, hand or forearm.

Not all health insurance plans will cover acupuncture treatment. This will make acupuncture for migraines an expensive treatment for some. However, the benefits from the significant reduction in both the amount of prescription medication and sick days from work may far outweigh the cost of the acupuncture for migraines and headaches.

The best to get quality treatment is to find quality, credentialed or board-certified practitioner. Do you research by checking with the national professional groups and credentialing organizations. This helps ensure that the acupuncturist you see is licensed to practise what he or she claims, and to check for any consumer complaints.

Before trying acupuncture for migraines, check with your primary care physician to ensure that the treatment will not interact with the prescription migraine medication you may already be taking. While looking for an acupuncturist, do not go for one who makes one-size-fits-all claims and touts himeself or herself to be capable of “miracle cures”. Choose a board-certified acupuncturist who has spent considerable time training before being certified, and one who has had extensive experience.

Watch the acupuncture for migraines video below to have a better idea of how acupuncture for migraine is being carried out:

Sep 11, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Prescription Migraine Medication

Your doctor may may provide you with prescription migraine medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are considered a second-line preventative treatment for migraine. They are often recommended when pre-existing health conditions make first-line treatments inadvisable, or when first-line treatments just aren’t effective. They may also be useful to those who can’t tolerate the side effects of antiepileptics, beta-blockers and antidepressants..

NSAID drugs are effective migraine medication for women who suffer from menstrual migraine. The drugs are usually started about seven days prior to the start of the menstrual period and taken two to three times daily, depending on the drug and dosage.

NSAIDs used for migraine prevention include aspirin (or acetylsalicylic acid), naproxen sodium (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Advil). Although many NSAIDs are sold as over-the-counter drugs, you should work with your doctor to determine what kind and dosage makes the best migraine medication for your particular situation.

Side Effects Of NSAIDs

Some NSAIDs can increase your sensitivity to the sun, so avoid prolonged sun exposure and use sunscreen when taking them. You may also suffer from fluid retention, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn and fatigue.

Be sure to avoid alcohol as this will increase your risk of stomach bleeding. If you take lithium, methotrexate, or any diuretics, NSAIDs can impact the therapeutic action of these drugs. Certain NSAIDs can aggravate your health condition if you usffer from stomach ulcers, asthma, heart disease, kidney or liver problems.

Children and teenagers with flu-like symptoms should not take aspirin or nonaspirin salicylates because it can increase the risk of developing Reyes Syndrome which could be fatal and cause serious damage to the liver, brain and other organs. Younger migraineurs are likely to be better off taking Butterbur pills instead. NSAIDs inhibit platelet function, they should be avoided by people who take other blood-thinning drugs or who are scheduled for surgery.

Sep 10, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Butterbur For Migraines

The Butterbur herb, also known as butterfly dock, bog rhubarb, and blatterdock, has been used for medicinal purposes since the fourteenth century. The perennial butterbur plant is small with large, rhubarblike leaves and spiky flowers, and has a large rhizome, or root, which is used in herbal preparations to treat asthma.

While butterbur has been studied extensively as a treatment for allergies because of its anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties, less research exists on its role as a migraine treatment. Most studies involve an extract of the butterbur root taken in tablet form, known commercially as Petadolex. While more well-designed studies of the herb are needed, existing studies indicate that butterbur pills have some efficacy as a migraine preventative.

Just like magnesium migraine relief, butterbur for migraines works to reduce migraine pain nutritionally.

Like feverfew, butterbur is related to ragweed and can cause an allergic reaction in anyone with an existing ragweed allergy. The herb has not been studied extensively enough to document all potential side effects, but those that have been reported in conjunction with clinical trials include nausea, belching, and other mild digestive complaints in twenty-five percent of the people under study. However, it must be noted that the occurrence of side effects were considered low in clinical trials.

A 2005 German study of over 100 children and adolescents studied the effectiveness and safety of butterbur for treating migraines. Researchers found that daily supplementation with butterbur extract over a period of four months cut the frequency of migraine attacks in half of 77 percent of patients. Doses of 50 to 70 mg twice daily have been shown to reduce headaches by up to one-half after 3 months. Children may use 25 mg twice daily.

Sep 09, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Magnesium And Migraine Prevention

Magnesium has been found to decrease the frequency of migraine headaches if a daily dose of 600 mg daily is taken over twelve weeks. Other studies have found that magnesium supplementation may also be a safe and effective prophylactic therapy for children, and for women suffering from menstrual migraine.

Intravenous magnesium sulphate has shown promise as an effective magnesium migraine relief. A small 2001 study found that the treatment eliminated head pain in 86 percent of the patients studied. Another study of emergency room treatment in migraineurs found that intravenous administration of magnesium sulphate was just as effective in reducing migraine head pain as IV infusion of metoclopramide.

How does magnesium work as a solution for migraine headaches? The mineral helps to regulate serotonin and other neurotransmitter function,and promotes muscle relaxation, among other things. Research has found that migraineurs have lower levels of magnesium in the body than most people, which could explain why magnesium provides migraine relief.

A deficiency of magnesium can actually cause headaches and sensitivity to light. Magnesium deficiency is no a common condition and occurs most often in people who have a malabsorption problem, in chronic alcoholics and as a side effect of certain medications. People with a calcium deficiency may also have a related magnsium deficiency. Poor nutrition also has the ability to affect magnesium levels in the body. High sugar, fat and phosphate intake through processed foods can affect the absorption of magnesium.

The best way to get essential vitamins and minerals is through a varied and healthy diet. Red meat, green leafy vegetables, and whole grain cereals are all good dietary sources of magnesium. The vitamins and minerals found in your food are better absorbed than supplements, taste better, and are cheaper in the long run.

Magnesium To Control Headaches & Migraines – A Note Of Caution

Some foods rich in magnsium may also be a trigger for migraine in some people. Almonds, cashews, soybeans, and seafood are all abundant sources of magnesium, but have been reported to trigger attacks in some migraineurs. Oral magnesium supplements can cause gastrointestinal distress at high doses. Nausea, bloating and diarrhea are common. When magnsium is taken as a supplement at levels high above the recommended dosage, it can be toxic to the body.

Symptoms of a magnesium supplement overdose include erratic heartbeat, skin flushing, dizziness, confusion, muscle weakness and loss of consciousness. Excess magnesium taken in dietary form does not cause side effects because the body excretes it naturally.

Sep 08, 2011 | 2 comments View Post

Names Of Migraine Medication

Your doctor is likely to prescribe preventative migraine medication or a prophylactic, if your migraines are frequent and significantly impact your daily life. In early 2008, the FDA approved four migraine medications – topiramate (Topomax), divalproex sodium (Depakote), propranolol (Inderal) and timolol (Blocadren). Classes of drugs that have demonstrated promise as migraine preventative medication include antiepileptics (AEDs), antidepressants, beta-blockers as well as calcium channel antagoists. However, such migraine medication may not totally eliminate your need for acute medications completely.

1) Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs)

AEDs are antiseizure or anticonvulsant durgs used in the treatment of epilepsy and other brain-based disorders. AEDs are believed to prevent migraines, or reduce the intensity of migraines, by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter GABA, which helps to suppress the spreading cortisol depression which may trigger a migraine attack.

Currently, only divalproex sodium (Depakote) and topiramate (Topomax) have been approved by the FDA for treating migraine. If you and your doctor decide on using AEDs as a medication for your migraine headaches, you will generally be started on a low dose that is gradually increased, to minimise side-effects and find the optimal dosage level. When starting on an AED, maintain your headache diary carefully so that you can gauge how effective the treatment is and document what side effects you may be experiencing.

Side effects of AEDs include nausea and vomitting, weight gain, dizziness and fatigue. Be sure not to take other depressants and alcohol with AEDs. If you already have a health condition, be sure to inform you doctor first. People with liver and kidney problems as well as pregnant women should not take AEDs as they have been linked to birth defects.

2) Antidepressants

Clinical studies have found antidepressants to be useful to migraine prevention by regulating the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and other neurotransmitters in the brain. Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep) is a tricyclic antidepressant and antianxiety medication that has been effective in migraine treatment and is considered a first-line drug in migraine prophylaxis.

Side effects of tricyclic antidepressants include dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, constipation, weight gain, anxiety, photosensitivity and fatigue. Orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure when changing position, may also occur. More serious side effects include loss of libido, blurred vision, high blood pressure and increased heart rate. If taken in too high a dose, tricyclic antidepressants can cause seizures, stroke or heart attack.

That being said, antidepressants should never be abruptly stopped because doing so can cause dizziness, headache, muscle aches, nausea and anxiety. People taking an MAO inhibitor should never take tricylic antidepressants because of the risk of a life-threatening drug interaction. Any MAO inhibitor must be stopped two weeks prior to starting these antidepressants. People with kidney, liver and heart disease should be allowed to take antidepressants only after being carefully monitored by their doctors.

3) Beta-Blockers

Beta blockers are drugs that relax blood vessels and block the effects of adrenaline in the body. Traditionally used to treat heart disease, Inderal and Biocadren are now FDA approved for the prevention of migraine.

Potential side effects of beta-blockers include fatigue, sleep problems, depression, decreased physical endurance, and impotence. Inderal and other beta-blockers decrease blood pressure and could cause dizziness and fainting in people with normal to low blood pressure as a result.

Migraineurs who have had lung or breathing problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should not take this medication for migraine as these drugs can cause breathing to deteriorate. They are also not recommended for people with slow heart rate or electrical conduction problems with their heart. If you take other over-the- counter and prescription medications, make sure you inform your doctor to prevent dangerous interactions.

4) Calcium Channel Blockers

Like beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers were traditionally used to treat cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and irregular heart rhythms. They block the absorption of calcium into the heart muscle and vascular system, thereby relaxing the cardiovascular system and increasing blood flow to the heart. They also regulate serotonin levels, which explains their efficicacy in migraine prevention.

Calan and Procardia may be useful in preventing migraine. However, potential side effects include constipation, edema, and low blood pressure causing dizziness and even fainting. Avoid grapefruit juice when you are on a prescription for calcium channel blocker as the juice decreases the efficacy of the drug. Alcohol should also be avoided. People with liver and kidney disease, as well as pregnant women should avoid calcium channel blockers.

5) Botox Treatment For Migraines

Botox is another migraine preventative. Click on botox for migraine for more information.

Sep 05, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Botox Treatment For Migraines

The US FDA approved botox as a treatment for migraines on 15 October 2010. Botox is used in cosmetic surgery to reduce or eliminate fine lines and wrinkles in the skin (known clinically as “hyperfunctional facial lines”. The idea of using botox for treating migraine headaches came about when researchers accidentally discovered that injectng botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) into the upper portion of the face has the potential to reduce the incidence of migraine for up to six months.

This is particularly valuable for adult patients with chronic migraine. Chronic migraine is defined as having a history of migraine and experiencing a headache on most days of the month.

Botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA; Botox) is a neurotoxin that is cultured from the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum, an organism foundinsoil and water. Once cultured, the toxin is sterilized and vacuum-dried. It is mixed with saline and injected with a fine needle just under the skin. The toxin causes short-term muscle paralysis in the area it is injected into, and may have some impact on the nerve fibers. This could explain its usefulness in short-term migraine prevention.

To treat chronic migraines, Botox is given approximately every 12 weeks as multiple injections around the head and neck to try to dull future headache symptoms. Botox has not been shown to work for the treatment of migraine headaches that occur 14 days or less per month, or for other forms of headache. It is important that patients discuss with their physician whether Botox is appropriate for them.

Botox has few side effects when administered in proper doses by a health care professional. However, in a user review of botox for migraine, some patients have reported to experience headache and neck pain from the migraine botox injections. In addition, the area surrounding the injection site can become weak if the toxin spreads. Although this is the desired therapeutic effect of the drug, it can be a problem if it spreads to the eyes causing drooping, throat causing difficulty swallowing or breathing, or other unintended areas.

Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox, issues a warning on the potential side effects to patients who wish to use botox for their migraine. Before your botox treatment for migraines, be sure to discuss with your doctor to fully understand the benefits and potential risks of this migraine treatment.

Aug 24, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Drugless Migraine Relief

Migraine relief and treatment falls into two categories – acute or preventative (also called prophylactic). There are also many simple nonpharmaceutical treatments that you can begin at home at the first sign of an impending migraine. Drugless migraine relief strategies can ease the discomfort of any breakthrough pain. They are also inexpensive and side-effect-free.

Here are some drugless migraine relief tactics which you could try:

1) Bed Rest

Rest is the simplest and most common strategy. Unplug the phone and retreat to a dark, restful place when you feel the onset of a migraine attack. If you have odour sensitivites, banish any scented candles or air fresheners in the area.

Install blackout shades or curtain liners to darken your room and insulate noise. Install a dimmer switch or a lamp that has dimming capabilities. Use high-thread-count sheets, soft blankets, and comfortable lounge-wear or pyjamas. Have extra pillows to elevate your head to alleviate head pain.

2) Compresses And Cold Packs

Most migraineurs find that cold compresses, or packs, are more effective than heat packs in easing head pain. You can buy cold packs targetted specifically for migraine pain relief. Cold compresses filled with gel material hug the face closely, retain cold and may be more comfortable than an ice pack on th sensitive skin. There are also commercially available cold gel patches that adhere to the forehead and can be useful in soothing migraine head pain. You can also make your own cold pack. A cold pack can be as simple as a washcloth soaked in cold water.

3) Massage For Migraine Relief

This is an effective chronic daily headache migraine treatment. Applying manual pressure to the pain joints on the head is a natural migraine relief which effectively alleviates head pain. Here is a video to demonstrate how you can massage away your migraine:

Aug 23, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Chronic Daily Headache Migraine Treatment

If you suffer from chronic daily headache, the best treatment for migraine headache has got to be a headache-free diet. Diet is one of the most important aspects of migraine treatment and it is also one aspect which migraineurs have the most control. Knowledge of migraine-inducing foods and additives, coupled with careful reading of ingredients, can help you establish what foods are migraine triggers for you and help you to eliminate them from your diet.

Food and beverage triggers aren’t easily identified. Therefore you will need to follow a careful process of food logging and systematic dietary isolation. Allow your body appropriate time to adjust and react to the changes. Eventually, you will be able to reduce your frequency of migraine attacks.

To isolate problem foods, you need to remove one potential trigger food from your diet at a time. Remember that some potential triggers can be hidden in ingredients in some of the other foods your regularly consume. Artificial sweeteners are often found in many “sugar-free” and low-calorie foods. Read labels carefully to ensure that you exclude the trigger from your diet complete during this process of elimination and testing.

Avoid triggering foods by keeping it out of the house. Look for substitutes that are suitable for both yourself and other members in the household. Be prepared that dietary changes are going to be permanent. Being able to slowly add back trigger foods in your diet is not impossible, but more often than not, sensitivities to certain foods do not go away with time.

Here is a list of foods and dietary substances known to potentially trigger migraines:

1) Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG is a food additive that is commonly used to enhance flavor. It is found in many different processed foods, including flavored potato chips and other snacks, sauces, soups and prepared meals. It is also present in many different types of restaurant food, the most notable being fast food and Asian cuisine. Animal studies have also suggested that ingesting large amounts of food with MSG can lead to high blood sugar and obesity.

Read labels to check for MSG if a food is considered “seasoned” or “flavored”. Other flavor enhancers that have similar properties to MSG and may act as triggers include

BHA or BHT
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) or hydrolyzed plant protein (HP)
Modified food starch
Carageenan
Maltodextran

A trial exclusion of these flavor enhancers from your diet can help you determine if they are a trigger for you. If you choose to have soup, take only homemade broth instead of canned soup or soup made with prepared bouillon.

2) Color Additives

FD&C yellow #5 (also called tartrazine dye) is a color additive found in soft drinks and candy. It can also be found in medications, food supplements and vitamins. Be aware that the yellow dye is used in more than just yellow foods. Yellow is used to create other colours, incuding orange, green, blue and maroon. Read food labels and ask the pharmacist about colour additives before picking any new medication.

3) Sugar And Sweeteners

Migraineurs tend to be more sensitive than most to changes in blood sugar. This rapid change may trigger migraine, but it can be avoided by limiting intake of refined sugars. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a potential migraine trigger for children and adolescents in particular. There also appears to be a correlation between low blood sugar and more intense migraine. A small amount of sugary drink at the onset of a headache or migraine may help relieve the pain. Be careful of foods containing artificial sweeteners as they may trigger your migraine headaches.

4) Aspartame

Several studies have shown a link between aspartame and migraines. Aspartame appears to lower levels of serotonin in the body which an either trigger a migraine or worsen an existing headache. Migraineurs who are sensitive to aspartame should avoid foods and beverages with Equal, Nutra-Sweet, Canderal, or any other sweeteners that list aspartame among their ingredients.

5) Other Artificial Sweeteners

Saccharine (Sweet’n Low) is one of the oldest available sweeteners, but it has not been linked to migraines. Sucralose, a newer sweetener sold under the brand Splenda, is found in many foods and beverages. It is not a frequent trigger for migraine, although there are published reports of migraine triggered by sucralose. If you notice a sensitivity to sucralose, place it on your elimination list immediately.

6) Comfort Foods

One of the major food triggers is amines which are substances derived from amino acids. Amines include several compounds (tyramine, phenylethylamine, and histamine) are known migraine triggers. Unfortunately many typical comfort foods such as bananas, red wine, cocoa, citrus and avocado can contain these substances. You can learn to eliminate these migraine triggers with careful substitution.

7) Chocolate

Chocolate contain both phenylethylamine and histamine which have been linked to migraine. Chocolate lovers who are sensitive these migraine triggers can look to carob as a substitute. Carob is a member of the legume family which does not contain caffeine and the triggering phenylethylamine. It is a nutritious food containing protein, Vitamins A, B and D in addition to calcium, potassium and magnesium. Be aware though, that both chocolate and carol contain tannins. If you have a sensitivity to tannins, carob will not be a suitable substitute.

Cured And Processed Meats

Sodium nitrite is added to cured meats, sausages, bacon, pepperoni, hot dogs, jerky and commercially dried fish products to increase shelf life and maintain colour. Substitute with fresh beef, chicken and pork which do not trigger migraines. Fried chicken from restaurants tends to be loaded with MSG, so beware. If you suffer from seasonal allergies or to nicotine smoke, you may also have an allergy to barbeque smoke. Barbequing woods such as cedar or hickory may trigger a migraine, so you may wish to stay indoors or try barbequing using gas or charcoal instead.

9) Aged Cheeses

Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, Asiago and hard cheddar tend to have the highest concentration of tyramine, an amino acid that is a potential migraine trigger. Beer and ale, fava beans, nuts, olives, pickles, red wine, salted or cured meat, sauerkraut, sour cream, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and yoghurt also contain tyramine.

10) Alcohol And Caffeine

Dehydration is a known migraine trigger, so adequate intake of water is important for the migraineur. Be careful when taking beer and ale or wine as they contain histamine, tyramine and tannins (in wine). Although caffeine may relieve headache pain at the start of a migraine, if caffeine intake is excessive, rebound headaches can become common when caffeine intake is withdrawn. Migraineurs may therefore wish to save caffeine only for emergencies to curtail a migraine attack. The caffeine will be more effective, and removing it largely from yur diet may reduce the number of headaches triggered by caffeine.

Aug 21, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Migraine Headaches – Common Causes Of Migraine

No one really knows what causes migraine headaches, but several theories have been put forward involving genetics, blood vessels, the nervous system, a brain chemical called serotonin – also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) – and a heart defect.

Genetics

As it has been observed that migraine often runs in families, some researchers believe genetics does play a part in migraine causes. They believe that many of the migraine sufferers are born with a predisposition to migraines.

Blood Vessels

There is a long held view migraines occur when the blood vessels constrict and then expand. The resulting fluctuations in blood flow in the brain leads to the start of migraine headaches.

The Nervous System

This view reinforces the blood vessel theory in that a migraine attack begins with oversensitive brain cells triggering the nerves to release brain chemicals. These brain chemicals cause the blood vessels in the brain to swell, leading to throbbing pain and other migraine symptoms.

The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that is associated with much of the nervous system and it controls appetite and emotions, among several other things. This may explain prodromal symptoms such as food cravings and mood swings.

Serotonin

It has been suggested that levels of serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT), are low at the beginning of an attack. Serotonin is important for normal brain function and affects the size of the blood vessels. It is thought that drugs called triptans – also known as 5HT agonists – constrict the blood vessels in the brain by balancing the levels of serotonin.

An injection of serotonin has been shown to end an attack. However, this is not recommended as a treatment for migraine headache as this has a number of adverse side effects.

Heart Defects

Recent research has suggested a possible link between migraine with aura and a hole in the heart, which is known medically as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). PFO is a small hole in the wall that divides the two upper chambers of the heart (the atria). All babies have this hole whilst in the womb, so that blood is circulated more efficiently, The hole usually closes after birth, but in some people, it stays open.

Tests show that 60% of migraine sufferers have larger than average PFOs, compared to 10% of non-sufferers. It is thought that the problem can lead to impurities not being filtered out of the blood properly. In those without PFO, all of the blood returning to the heart being pumped around the body is cleaned and filtered by the lungs.

However, in those with the condition, unfiltered blood may get through the hole. It is believed that when this unfiltered blood reaches the brain, it can trigger a migraine in some people. It is possible to close a PFO using corrective surgery but, following a trial involving more than 100 people with severe migraines, concerns have been raised over the risks involved, especially given the small reduction in migraine frequency that was reported.

All of the above-mentioned factors may be interrelated and linked to the causes of migraine headaches. For example, a migraineur could inherit an oversensitivity to stimuli, such as bright light, loud noise or physiological disturbances, including blood sugar changes, altered sleep patterns or dehydration. Any of these could trigger the release of serotonin, causing the blood vessels first to narrow and then expand, could cause a migraine. In some cases where a migraineur inherits a PFO, similar changes in the brain as a result of the PFO may then cause a migraine.

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Get Permanent Relief From Migraines!

Jul 12, 2011 | 0 comments View Post